Why care about air?
The average adult breathes around 11,000 liters of air every day. Within that air lurks dangerous particles that can't be seen with the naked eye. Once inside your body, they can travel deep into the respiratory tract, make their way into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Wearing a mask can reduce your exposure to particulate matter and safeguard your long-term health.
99%
of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality guidelines.
How does it affect you
How does it affect you
Exposure to PM can cause serious health effects, both in the short- and long-term. These effects can range from eye, nose, throat, and lung irritation through to reduced lung function, lung cancer, asthma, and heart disease. People with existing health issues like heart or lung diseases, children, and older adults are most likely to be affected by exposure to air pollution.
The main pollutants and their health impact
Main pollutants
Health impacts
Transportation emissions
Air pollution emitted from transportation contributes to smog, and to poor air quality, which has negative impacts on the health and welfare of citizens. Pollutants that contribute to poor air quality include particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Industrial facilities
Emissions from energy (power plants and refineries) and manufacturing industries represent the second-largest source of primary PM10 (28%) and PM2.5 (21%) in Europe.
Wildfires
Wildfires are a major source of fine particulate matter (diameter <2.5 µm; PM2.5), which is a health hazard
Metals
Including lead, mercury, arsenic. Iron and steel sectors dominate lead emissions, while disposal of treated wood by burning is source of arsenic
Heart
Linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases, such as a stroke and heart disease, including atherosclerosis (furring of the arteries). Can also exacerbate existing conditions.
Brain
Exposure of pregnant women found to affect to fetal brain growth. Also impacts mental and physical development in children and cognition in adults.
Lungs
Suppresses normal lung growth in children. Accelerates lung function decline or an ageing lung in adults and a known cause of lung cancer. Also linked to onset of asthma.
Pancreas
Linked to onset of type 2 diabetes in adults.
Fatigue
The increased presence of pollutants in the air causes an increase in fatigue.
Depression
Air pollution exposure is linked to depressive symptoms in adolescents.
Masks
Face masks
Our masks use a multilayer filter technology to provide superior protection from air pollution and other airborne hazards. Mask-wearing is one of the best defences we have against unclean air and a simple measure to prolong your life and optimize your health.
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