Neck-worn air purifier helps tube users breathe easy

Known as Aerate, the prototype device creates a clean bubble of air around a user's face, with two fans passing air through Spunbond Polypropylene (SBPP) filters. These filters can capture particulate matter as small as 2.5 micrometers, which is about 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.

Breathing in unhealthy levels of PM2.5 has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, as well as cognitive impairments. In underground train environments, PM2.5 levels often exceed World Health Organization defined limits. Mia Patterson Cox, the Industrial Design and Technology graduate who created Aerate, became aware of the extent of the pollution problem during her placement year in London as she frequently used the tube to get around the city.

“I often thought about the hot stuffy environment and would be concerned when I found dust around my nostrils after travelling on underground trains”, said Patterson Cox. “It made me feel uneasy about the time I spent in the network, prompting me to explore the problem of pollution.