Product Design
To create a product that removes dangerous amounts of air pollution from the daily lives of postneonatal infants (28 days to 1 year).
As of May 2017, the UK exceeded the legal pollution amount for the third time according to EU guidelines. In January 2018, the UK was given an ultimatum to show what measures they were taking in attempt to comply with the EU air pollution laws. These stringent measures were taken because ‘London reached its legal air pollution limit for 2018’.
These extreme rates of pollution have been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular illness, the high levels of carbon monoxide particularly effect the vulnerable: in particular infants that live in built up areas.
This is why there is a need for a product that reduces dangerous amounts of pollution from the daily lives of postneonatal infants (28 days to 1 year). As infants of this age breathe 50% more air per pound of body weight; have thinner more permeable skin allowing pollutants to permeate more easily. Their nervous system is weaker and hormone balance is unstable, resulting in a low resilience and poor ability to deal with external change.
An air purification unit sits underneath the seat of the pushchair, and an MQ-7 air quality sensor detects incoming levels of the pollutants generated by vehicles. At 35ppm the sensor will start the purifier which will draw in the air through a High Efficiency Particulate (HEPA) Filter, extracting large particulates PM2.5 and PM10 and then through a carbon filter which removes noxious gases Nitrogen Dioxide and Carbon Monoxide.
The clean air is then pumped up through a food safe silicone pipe to the hood. Attached to the hood is a sturdy extension to the tube with staggered nozzles which release the purified air as a curtain in front of the infant.
This reduces the amount of pollutants that reach the infant until the sensor detects gas and particulate levels are safe at which point the product switches off.
