Breathe easy in your car
With a 99-per-cent removal rate of PM2.5 pollutants, the Atmosphere Drive is the first and only car air treatment system to carry the Allergy UK Seal of Approval. Photos: Amway
As if the stress of being stuck in a traffic jam isn’t bad enough, here is another reason why your daily drive to and from work might be a health hazard: Research shows that the air quality inside your car may be up to 15 times more toxic than the air outside.
And at a standstill – in a traffic jam or at a red light, for example – airborne pollution levels inside vehicles are up to 40 per cent higher than in moving traffic, according to a study published in 2016 in Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts.
Poor air quality is known to directly affect health and well-being. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database, which was updated in 2016, found that more than 80 per cent of urban dwellers were exposed to air quality levels that do not meet WHO limits.
Children are especially vulnerable to the adverse effects of poor-quality air. Besides affecting developing lungs, traffic-related air pollution has also been linked to lower concentration levels and attention span, and slower reaction time in children.
UNWELCOME “PASSENGERS” IN THE CAR
Sources of in-car airborne contaminations include toxic emissions from other vehicles and fine particulate matter that may enter the car from outdoors or hitch a ride through the ventilation system, the latter a potential breeding spot for mould as it thrives in damp and dark places.
Although your car’s cabin filter may trap some pollutants before they enter the air conditioner, it is unable to trap those coming in from other gaps or when the door is open.
Other contaminants that may circulate in indoor air include germs, dust, pollen, allergens, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds.
To combat such airborne pollutants and improve the air quality inside the car, you might want to consider installing an in-vehicle air treatment system.
Designed for families and city dwellers who spend time commuting in cars, the Atmosphere Drive is a first-generation car air treatment system from Amway that uses a three-in-one filtration technology to improve the quality of air.
Amway is the maker of the Atmosphere Air Treatment System, the world’s largest-selling home air treatment product, based on a Verify Markets study of 2015 global sales.
With a 99-per-cent removal rate of PM2.5 pollutants, the Atmosphere Drive is currently the first and only car air treatment system to carry the Allergy UK Seal of Approval. This indicates that the device has been scientifically tested to reduce or remove allergens by a third-party laboratory, and is therefore suitable for people with allergies.
PM2.5 pollutants are smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, and these tiny particles can lead to health issues when they are inhaled.
ATMOSPHERE DRIVE: HOW IT WORKS
The self-installed air purification system, which consists of a pre-filter, particulate filter and carbon filter, first captures large contaminants like hair and dust before removing smaller PM2.5 particulates, smoke and other major airborne contaminants.
It can also reduce odours inside the vehicle for a fresher and better-smelling ride. The system maintains a Clean Air Delivery Rate, which is a guide of the efficiency of an air purifier, of 30 cubic metre per hour at maximum speed.
Additional features of Amway’s Atmosphere Drive include a particle sensor that provides real-time air quality monitoring and allows for auto-mode operation to minimise distractions while driving.
A smart chip technology connects the unit to individual filters so that users can effectively monitor filter lifespan and know when it is time to replace the filters. Besides an adjustable fan speed, the air treatment system boasts a sound level no higher than 55 decibels.
Atmosphere Drive is available exclusively from Amway Singapore. For more information, visit amway.sg or call 6550 9950.
