Preparing for poor air quality from a friend
Personal solutions (what you can do for yourself+family)
Air Purifiers: (bedroom, childrens room, office cabin)
There are two types of air purifiers: those with HEPA filters, and those that are ionic. Old ionic purifiers were considered unhealthy because they released ozone, but the new ones apparently don’t. Check your ionic purifier for this before buying. HEPA filter purifiers are considered better, but are expensive to maintain: they require regular filter changes. Some recommendations:
For a room that is around 600 sq ft: I have Sharp. You might need to buy a new HEPA filter in a month or two, given delhi’s pollution levels. These are typically expensive, and are not reusable. Buy with a prefilter, which will ensure that the HEPA filter lasts longer.
For a room that is around 400 sq ft: The Xiaomi one looks good, but it's out of stock most of the time. http://www.mi.com/in/air2/ . filters will need to be replaced regularly.
Wear pollution masks when outdoors
High end: Vogmask. Get the one with double valve, so it's easier to breathe. They're comfortable. Won’t last very long, so you’ll need to buy often. Filters cannot be replaced.
Cheaper options: N95 masks (they're not very comfortable). Same site has other options too.
Change your timings: If possible, change the time when you are outdoors. Kids should not be playing outside at any time. No morning walks, no major physical exercise. Pollution is particularly high early in the mornings, late in the evenings.
Check data:
Safar air has pretty good coverage, but you’ll need to check regularly. Download the app / visit the site.
Central Pollution Control Board website. Check for pollution levels through the day. Short link for that: http://tinyurl.com/nationalair
Personal: the Laser Egg monitor is expensive, but useful. You can check relative levels in a room with a purifier, and outside. Laser Egg version 1 measures till AQI 500. Laser Egg version 2 measures till AQI 1000. Remember that delhi usually goes beyond both these levels.
Indiaspend data: http://api.indiaspend.org/dashboard/ before you step out. Some of this data doesn’t appear to be reliable. IMPORTANT: change "avg hrs" setting to 1 hour. the 24 hour data is useless.
Plants that help:
Lilyturf (for formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, ammonia)
Mother in Law’s Tongue (for benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, tricholoroethylene)
Money Plant (for benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene,)
Car air purifiers: Here’s one: http://www.nirvanabeing.com/product-category/air-purifier/car-air-purifier/ Again: filters will have to be bought and changed monthly. more
Air Purifiers: (bedroom, childrens room, office cabin)
There are two types of air purifiers: those with HEPA filters, and those that are ionic. Old ionic purifiers were considered unhealthy because they released ozone, but the new ones apparently don’t. Check your ionic purifier for this before buying. HEPA filter purifiers are considered better, but are expensive to maintain: they require regular filter changes. Some recommendations:
For a room that is around 600 sq ft: I have Sharp. You might need to buy a new HEPA filter in a month or two, given delhi’s pollution levels. These are typically expensive, and are not reusable. Buy with a prefilter, which will ensure that the HEPA filter lasts longer.
For a room that is around 400 sq ft: The Xiaomi one looks good, but it's out of stock most of the time. http://www.mi.com/in/air2/ . filters will need to be replaced regularly.
Wear pollution masks when outdoors
High end: Vogmask. Get the one with double valve, so it's easier to breathe. They're comfortable. Won’t last very long, so you’ll need to buy often. Filters cannot be replaced.
Cheaper options: N95 masks (they're not very comfortable). Same site has other options too.
Change your timings: If possible, change the time when you are outdoors. Kids should not be playing outside at any time. No morning walks, no major physical exercise. Pollution is particularly high early in the mornings, late in the evenings.
Check data:
Safar air has pretty good coverage, but you’ll need to check regularly. Download the app / visit the site.
Central Pollution Control Board website. Check for pollution levels through the day. Short link for that: http://tinyurl.com/nationalair
Personal: the Laser Egg monitor is expensive, but useful. You can check relative levels in a room with a purifier, and outside. Laser Egg version 1 measures till AQI 500. Laser Egg version 2 measures till AQI 1000. Remember that delhi usually goes beyond both these levels.
Indiaspend data: http://api.indiaspend.org/dashboard/ before you step out. Some of this data doesn’t appear to be reliable. IMPORTANT: change "avg hrs" setting to 1 hour. the 24 hour data is useless.
Plants that help:
Lilyturf (for formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, ammonia)
Mother in Law’s Tongue (for benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, tricholoroethylene)
Money Plant (for benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene,)
Car air purifiers: Here’s one: http://www.nirvanabeing.com/product-category/air-purifier/car-air-purifier/ Again: filters will have to be bought and changed monthly. more
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View all 9 comments Below 9 comments
Hello, best option is to get indoor plants suitable for this environment, which are low cost and low maintenance too, so instead of spending money on this gadgets, lets go natural way to improve things for all now more
Oct 22
I have been using a 6 stage air purifier, one of the stages is a HEPA filter, since 3 years +. If you clean the pre filter regularly, the HEPA filter will easily last 3 to 4 months. A replacement costs Rs1100 approx more
Oct 22
Diwali celebration is nearby. we all of us should encourage cracker free celebration in Delhi NCR to avoid more pollution. more
Oct 22
The best personal solution for all human beings is to understand own responsibility and follow a life style where you do not tend to contribute any contaminant to the Nature (primarily Water and Air). The Builders and Civil Contractors in India will never work in environment friendly manner whatever terms and conditions may have been stipulated. Public in vested interests will look for ownership of space for free by encroaching the public utility space on roads and pedestrian paths. Civic Agencies will never deliver their responsibilities but all the people would like to get employment with these organisations. Tree plantation will be carried out on large scale with no appropriate plan but none will like to take care of the existing plantation including our Forest Departments who are short of resources. Most of us will not like to work for own needs and would employ somebody else who would not understand the basic manners because we still believe in Slavery. I have vented enough for today based on my personal experience of more than 60 years of my life. more
Oct 22
