According to the latest data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), 99% of the global population is breathing air that exceeds the standard of pollution, and billions of people cannot breathe healthy air. In over 6000 monitored cities, PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations generally exceed the standard. PM2.5 can penetrate the bloodstream and is directly related to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, lung cancer, and other conditions. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have become invisible killers threatening public health. When outdoor air cannot be improved in a short period of time, indoor air purification becomes the last line of defense to protect respiratory health, "said Professor Li, an environmental health expert. In this severe situation, air filters, as the most direct and effective means of protection, are transforming from industrial products to a "health necessity" for households and public places.
Air filters are the "life barrier" from industry to family. In the medical field, hospital operating rooms and ICUs are equipped with HEPA filters as standard to effectively block viral aerosols. During the COVID-19, the demand for filters in negative pressure wards increased by 300%. In the family scene, the sales of fresh air systems with PM2.5 filtration increased by 45% annually. According to the data of China Jingdong Consumer Research Institute, the replacement volume of air cleaner filter elements will exceed 20 million pieces in 2023. In terms of transportation, Tesla and other electric vehicles are equipped with "biochemical defense mode" filters. China's high-speed rail has comprehensively upgraded the nanofiber filtration system
Air filter technology upgrade, the era of intelligent filtration is coming. Some high-end military grade products use submarine/chemical grade filter materials, and brands such as Xiaomi in the Internet of Things have launched intelligent purifiers that can monitor pollution and automatically adjust. From the perspective of long-term environmental protection, washable filters and photocatalytic decomposition technology have been introduced to reduce usage costs.
Experts call for air filtration to be considered in the industry. Just as every building must be equipped with fire-fighting facilities, schools, nursing homes, and other places should be required to install air filtration systems, "suggested the China Indoor Environment Monitoring Committee. Some provinces and cities have started pilot projects, and after a key primary school in Beijing installed purification equipment in classrooms, the medical treatment rate for respiratory diseases among students decreased by 62%. After experiencing the pandemic, there are still 7 million preventable deaths and countless preventable years of losing health due to air pollution, which is unacceptable. When we see a large amount of air pollution data, evidence, and available solutions, this is what we want to say. However, there are still too many investments being invested in polluted environments rather than clean and healthy air, "said Dr. Maria Neira, Director of the Environment, Climate Change, and Health Department of the World Health Organization. Healthy air environments should be valued and invested in clean and good environments.
When clean air becomes a luxury, air filters are upgrading from optional consumer goods to the basic guarantee of life and health. With the popularization of technology and cost reduction, it may become a standard household appliance like a water purifier in the future.
