Bert Leatherman wearing Totobobo mask in Sao Paulo

From time to time we receive feedback from our users. It is always a pleasure to read these feedback, whether they are positive or not. For example, on November 30, 2011, Bert sent the following to us:

“Looks like your mask works great! Here’s a photo of a filter (compared to a new one) after 3 days’ use for 1-2 hours per day on the streets of Sao Paulo. Feel free to publish this photo anywhere you’d like. Thanks! Bert

Bert's filter after about 5 hours of walking in Sao Paulo

Soon after, Bert send another mail concerning about the fit around the nose bridge. Since more people may be interested here is listed his question and our answer:

Bert: Any ideas for improving the seal around my nose? Air leaks in beside the bridge of my nose a bit when I inhale. Thanks!

Francis: Regarding the slight gap near to the nose brdige, you may try to use the nose-rest of your sun glasses to press on the mask to help to close it.

There may also other ways to trim the mask so that it fits better. But I’d need a few good quality, close up photos showing the problem situation now in order to give our advice.

To clarify, Bert uses the Totobobo mask just for walking, not cycling. The grey pollutant trapped on the filter could be worst if he was cycling and breathe more heavily. In any case, the filter shows a lot of pollutants would have entered his airways and lungs if not for the protection of the filter.

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One in three Americans suffer from hypertension, a significant health problem that can lead to cardiovascular disease, heart failure, stroke, diabetes and other life-threatening problems. Researchers at the University of Michigan Health System have determined that the very air we breathe can be an invisible catalyst to cardiovascular disease.

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Totobobo presented to Thai traffic police

A Thai traffic police officer wearing Totobobo mask

Details later..

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Thanks to Al Castillo from Manila, we got this cool picture from him: ”Based on the color of the filters which I used only for a day, it filters well.”

Al is part of the Tiklop Society of the Philippines, Tiklop- meaning folding, TSP is a folding bike riding group. On the 7th of August the group was riding from Manila to Bulacan, an 80km ride! Al didn’t need to use the mask for the entire trip, possible only use it for half of the trip where the air pollution is more apparent.
more about the Bulacan ride

Riding with SuperCool mask - photo credit Al Castillo 2011

What Ross has to said about SuperCool?
Protect your lungs when riding in the city
More advanced features of TOTOBOBO mask
How to customize TOTOBOBO mask to fit your face?

12 useful features for cyclist
How to clean TOTOBOBO mask for reuse?
Buy TOTOBOBO mask
How long does the filter last?

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From http://english.aljazeera.net

“Ojeks”, or bicycle taxis, were once a common sight in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta.

But as cars and buses have become cheaper, the ojek transport industry has gone into decline, and there are now just a few hundred riders left.

Al Jazeera caught up with one of the riders who is finding it difficult to make ends meet.

“Bicycle is anti-pollution but the rest of the vehicles are not. we are just right behind them!”  Said the bicycle taxi rider.

The last sentence touches me the most:  ”I want to just enjoy my life, just let it flow!”

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Good news if you are staying in Beijing, you can now get the Totobobo mask directly from a local shop.

Torana Clean Air Center, a store specialized in air filters is our first dealer in Beijing. We are very glad to have an expert in the field to be our first dealer in Beijing.

Beijing air, like many big cities is not particular friendly to people with respiratory condition. A quick check on the air quality, the numbers shows the key concern is PM2.5, the very fine particles that can be inhale deep into our lungs, a byproduct of motorized vehicle. Recent studies suggested that the increased concentration of PM2.5 is strongly link to the number of hospital admission relates to heart problems. Totobobo mask is able to drastically cut down your exposure to such fine particles during the ‘bad air days’. It is also the only mask that can be customized to fit small faces, even as small as five years old, and is recommended by Dr. St. Cyr, a family doctor in Beijing.

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On March 22, 2011, Michael Romo purchase a Totobobo SuperCool mask from our site. At that time he told us:

“Hello, I’m looking forward to bringing this mask to work with me because I am a bicycle messenger in Los Angeles and the aerial pollution here is very bad. As long as we have to live in a world where our cities are full of noxious gas automobile pollution, I have to make adjustments so I can earn a living. Let me just add that I truly hate gas and car culture. We can send robots to mars but we can’t transport ourselves from place to place without spewing poisonous gas into people’s faces. It’s really sad. I appreciate your product though and hope it works well for me. Thank you, Mike.”

Now two months after receiving his SuperCool, Mike wrote to us again:
“I got my mask and it works really well. I bike messenger in los angeles and after 5 years I almost had enough of the smog and couldn’t stand it. I’ve been using it for 2 months and I like my job again. It cuts out the general air pollution around but if you’re right behind a truck or similar you still breathe in some gas but if you know how to avoid and dodge that while your riding then this mask really helps. I also like that it covers part of my face because I get annoyed when all the retards in the cars or walking try to examine my facial expression while I’m working. Now I’m like a ninja slicing my way through this toxic nebula of human worthlessness. My job is fun again! Thanks, Mike.”

Isn’t this beautiful? This is the kind of direct user feedback that make us believe in what we do. Thanks you, Mike!

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Totobobo in front of the Heroes Square! Budapest, Hungary - photo creadit Akos

Totobobo is now in Hungary. Welcome Akos!

Yeah! Our first dealer in Europe has launched Totobobo last week. This is good news for our European customers who need protection from traffic pollution, flu virus, pollens or even volcanic dust.

http://www.totobobo.hu

Totobobo launched in Hungary

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That’s the conclusion I got when looking at the animated 3D ‘Pollution map’ video of London. The orange yellow color, mainly along the main roads, indicates high level of air pollution where the blue color are area with better air quality. It is intuitive to think air pollution level is higher along the main roads and lower away from the main roads, but I could never imagine the differences can be so huge!

In the short video below you can see the highest air pollution concentrated right along the main roads and junctions, likely the result of slow moving vehicles there. Most of the area away from the main roads are much better.

If you are waiting for the green light at any of such junctions, hold your breathe. Because the ultra fine particles (0.1-0.3 micros, currently not being regulated) can travel deep down into the lungs and stay longer there than their bigger brothers (>2.5 microns). Ultra fine particles significantly reduces the positive effects of good cholestary
There are increased evidents showing these ultra-fine particles are the silence killer closely links to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

Cyclist! Wear an effective mask, or move away from the busy roads!

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The picture provided by otgonbayar from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, says a thousand words:

Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Air pollution in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

According to Tumenbayasgalan, another reader of our blog:

In our capital city Ulaanbaatar we have heavy air pollution during November-March period as a result of traditional Mongolian houses (yourts) burn raw coal for their daily use such as heating, cooking, etc. We also have heavy traffic jam and blowing dust during springtime that contributes to air pollution. Air quality index has been recorded as high as 279 compared to WHO ‘s recommended index 0-20.

A recent Forbes article by William Pentland highlighted:

In December 1952, the Great Smog that settled over the city of London for four deadly days claimed the lives of more than 4,000 people that winter. In 1948, a similar soot-filled cloud was responsible for dozens of deaths in Donora, Pennsylvania.

Make no mistake about it: dirty air is dangerous to breath.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains why:

Particle pollution – especially fine particles – contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can get deep into the lungs and cause serious health problems. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including [aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeat and premature death in people with heart or lung disease] . . . People with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure. However, even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms from exposure to elevated levels of particle pollution.

As facemask becomes a must have during the winter month, some well connected residences of Ulaanbaatar started to discover the advantage of Totobobo: high tech protection, comfort , easy to clean and fit everybody including children and adult.

Ulaanbaatar resident wearing Totobobo mask

Monk users in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Nun user wearing Totobobo users in front of temple

Mother and son wearing Totobobo mask in Mongolia

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