It’s allergy season again. Spring is here, and the catkin white fluff is in the air! Lately, I’ve noticed many people wearing these Pitta masks out on the streets of Beijing. They look sleek, but I wondered whether they actually work. After all, data shows that Japan’s air quality is much better than China’s, so it’s possible that they were designed for things other than […]
Category: Reviews
Top Air Purifiers in Shanghai Consumer Protection Bureau Tests
Using actual air purifier test data on is the best way to cut through the misleading marketing claims purifier companies make to try to get us to pay more money for clean air. For that reason, I’m always on the look out for good test data. Data is power. One source I like […]
Can pollution masks help with India’s air pollution?
Every year when winter rolls around, a billion people in India are left breathing toxic, polluted air when on the streets. Be it in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Hyderabad, everyone is forced to become experts in a complicated scientific question to cope with the pollution: Do pollution masks work? I’ve heard doubts from smart, skeptical […]
IQAir Atem Review – Is this portable air purifier effective?
The IQAir Atem is a personal, portable air purifier that’s new on the scene. Recently, we were asked by Vincent to review the IQAir Atem – which IQAir calls “the most effective personal air purifier.” Here was Vincent’s question: Being the data nerds that we are, we decided to get some data to help us answer […]
This Data Explains Why You Should Never Use Your Purifier’s Auto Mode
Lots of things in our life are becoming smart. Our phones are smart. Our cars are getting smarter. Purifiers seem like a great candidate for “an education,” but test data shows smart purifiers routinely fail, leaving users with dangerous air. The idea behind smart purifiers’ auto mode is simple. The purifier has a small […]
This Data Explains Why You Should Never Use Your Purifier’s Auto Mode – Supplemental Data
Data and Test Details Test Methods: These tests were identical to my previously published tests, details of which can befound here, here, and here. Original Data: The original data for all 13 tests is available as an Excel file here Average Outdoor PM2.5 During Tests It’s important to note the average outdoor PM2.5 during tests because purifiers achieve smaller percentage […]
Xi’an unveils smog-fighting purifier tower, but does it work?
One group of scientists on the south side of Xi’an are fighting back against Xi’an’s rising PM2.5, and they did so in true China style — by building something big, a huge air purifier tower to be precise. But locals are left to wonder, does it actually work? The air filtering tower might be coming […]
Which Gym in Beijing has the Safest Air?
Even though PM2.5 levels fell in 2017, years of bad air pollution across China has led to many people installing air purifiers in their homes. Most of us are now breathing cleaner air at home, but what about when we are in public spaces? What’s the air like in that gym we go to, or […]
Do Pollution Masks Really Work?
When a billion people in China (and quite a few expats) woke up to the severe air pollution in almost every city in China, it forced a billion people to become experts in a complicated scientific question: Do masks work? Since then, I’ve given talks with hundreds of people all around China about how to protect […]
Tesla’s “Bioweapon Defense Mode” Is As Effective As…A 2010 Mazda?
Tesla rolled out its “bioweapon defense mode” to lots of fanfare and media attention. Tesla went big: “Bioweapon Defense Mode is not a marketing statement, it is real. You can literally survive a military grade bio attack by sitting in your car.” Elon’s telling the truth, but not the whole truth. Tests I’ve done […]