China

Totobobo mask Review by Vivalabike from Shenzhen, China

by info on April 26, 2010

Adrian, Willett & Mark of Viva La Bike recently post a review of Totobobo mask from Shenzhen, China.

Mark from vivalabike.com

Mark


Adrian

Adrian


Dustin

Dustin

After wearing the Totobobo mask, I honestly feel a discernible difference between the Totobobo and other lesser masks I have worn. In short, the bottom line is the way I felt during and after the ride, as well as the before and after shots of the filter. While we do not have access to technology that assesses filter effectiveness on a chemical/molecular level, the mask seemed to perform as it was intended to perform. Overall, the performance was solid, and is an excellent choice for those concerned about air quality.

Pros
Good Seal
Small Shape
Good Fit
Super lite and thin
Thin but very strong strap
Feels durable

Cons
Condensation>Wetness
Intake airflow produces a suction affect on mask

Review Testing Conditions

Air temp 25C, 70-80% humidity
Medium level of pollution report by Hong Kong Air Quality center
Ride-Streets, bike paths and sidewalks of Shenzhen

Observation:
Overall product performance was positive. Wearing the mask was fairly comfortable. The fit was good and it provided a solid seal when sufficient tension was placed on the strap. Inhalation(intake) provided a bit of a challenge as a suction affect occurs. However, during regular riding which requires normal inspiration/expiration, the suction effect is minimal. Exhalation(breathing out) was not an issue at all. Air flow outward tends to flow up through/by the eyes, which has the potential to fog glasses. Condensation within the mask tends to make the seal where the mask contacts the face, a bit sweaty. The positive benefits of the mask, perhaps outweigh a few of the minor nuances associated with wearing a mask that is of higher quality that of the N95 variety. Strictly going off of feeling and smell, when riding the bike while wearing the mask, intake of air simply felt improved. Riding my bike at least twice a day, I can really tell the difference between the way I feel post-ride as well as during. After wearing the Totobobo mask, I honestly feel a discernible difference between the Totobobo and other lesser masks I have worn. In short, the bottom line is the way I felt during and after the ride, as well as the before and after shots of the filter. While we do not have access to technology that assesses filter effectiveness on a chemical/molecular level, the mask seemed to perform as it was intended to perform. Overall, the performance was solid, and is an excellent choice for those concerned about air quality.

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Chinese patent opens up new market opportunity for Totobobo

by info on March 28, 2010

The Chinese Patent Office granted a new patent for the innovative Totobobo mask. Considering the increasing difficulties in acquiring a Chinese patent, this comes as a major achievement. The potential sale of Totobobo masks will greatly increase now that the Chinese market has opened to this innovative product.

Sharon Li, Dream Lab One’s managing director believes that, “the new patent, along with the rest of our IP portfolio, opens up new opportunity for licensing business”.

This development comes as no surprise, though, given the exceptional performance of Totobobo mask that has so far won the trust of customers from 35 countries, from the United States to Mexico to Mongolia, as far north as Russia and as far south as New Zealand.

Demand for the Totobobo mask is believed to be very high among China’s health-conscious and rapidly expending middle class. Despite great efforts to clear the air, air pollution remains a serious challenge. The recent sand storm swept across 16 provinces in China is a stern wake up call. Experts warn air pollution will remains to be a problem for years to come. According to the World Bank, 16 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are in China. Time Magazine reports that: “Linfen has the worst air in China” because of the large quantities of coal being burnt daily. Like Linfen, airborne contaminants abound in Chinese cities, renowned for their smog, soot, and overall poor air quality. Before the air is cleaned, many users can benefit from the protection of Totobobo mask, namely:

- cyclists and motorcyclists
- traffic policeman
- tollgate staff
- students and children
- asthmatics and hay fever patients

The Totobobo mask’s creator, Francis Chu, welcomes the recognition:
“China is an important manufacturing base as well as the biggest market for respirators. This is an important patent today and will become more important in the future.”

This development is good news for Chinese consumers, since the reusable Totobobo mask is both economic and effective for reducing the risk of respiratory disease.

About Totobobo
Totobobo is the world’s first customizable respirator mask designed to fit both children and adult. The highly effective mask is exceptionally comfortable. At 20 grams, Totobobo is by far the lightest reusable respiratory mask on the market. Sales have hit 35 countries since the launch in 2008. Totobobo is a product of Dream Lab One Pte. Ltd. The masks are available at www.totobobo.com.

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Singapore Reusable Mask Hits 35 Countries

by info on February 15, 2010

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The TOTOBOBO Mask from the tiny red dot has officially become a worldwide phenomenon, providing respiratory protection to customers from 35 countries.

On February 14, 2010, the protective mask produced in Singapore has been sold in a whopping thirty-five countries worldwide. Since its inception in 2008, the company has expanded operations significantly, reaching this critical milestone just on the Valentine day. Customers across five continents, from Canada to New Zealand, have found the TOTOBOBO mask the best valued on the market.

Strong demand for the TOTOBOBO mask came from regular travelers in polluted cities and users with allergic rhinitis who want to avoid hay fever or other airborne allergens, as well as specialist users like cyclists and motorcyclists, woodworkers, artists and artisans, and parents concerned with their children’s health.

Customers worldwide are drawn to the appealing high-tech features found in the TOTOBOBO mask. The highly efficient filters, capable of keeping out all but a tiny fraction of particles smaller than .5 microns, provide unparalleled protection and breathing freedom. Replacement filters cost less than 1 dollar, by far the most economic replacement filter in the market, offers economy and convenience to a wide range of consumers.

Flags of the 35 countries

AustraliaAustriabelgiumcanadachina
finlandfrancegermanygreeceguatemala
hong_kongindiaindonesiairanisrael

italylithuaniamaltamexicomongolia

new_zealandnorwaypolandrussian_federationsingapore

south_africasouth_koreaspainswedentaiwan

thailandunited_kingdomunited_statesvietnamnetherlands

The comfortable fit of TOTOBOBO masks is unchallenged. The mask’s flexible design allows customization to fit the face as it should. The Visual-Seal-Check ensures a good respiratory seal that can not be matched by other masks. Users can check the seal through the transparent mask to make sure it works properly, making the VSC system more reliable than the alternative. Adriana Meiss of Syracuse, NY, commends the simplicity and efficiency of the TOTOBOBO mask, saying: “This is the only mask I’ve been able to get used to. I trim it smaller to produce a good seal”. When it comes to breathability, Don, a pastel artist, says “there seemed to be more air coming through the TOTOBOBO mask than the previous mask [3M 8210] I have been using”.

Satisfied customers from around the world have sung the praises of the TOTOBOBO mask. Debbie Witter of freehelpforcancer.com wrote
“Totobobo mask is the ONLY mask that fits the way a mask should. It is also the most economical product on the market. The other masks are hot, poorly fitted and have to be replaced repeatedly. I love your product and keep one of the masks in my purse, in case it is needed for [my daughter] Kayla. I am never without it”.

 

Vasu Mishra of Bangalore, India

Vasu Mishra from Bangalor, India was so pleased with Totobobo mask and end up selling the mask in his bicycle blog shop : BumsOnTheSaddle.

 

 

 

Kayla from USA

Debbie Witte from USA, found Totobobo mask during her search for a better protective mask for her daughter, Kayla, she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2008.

 

 

 

Mother and child from Mongolia wearing Totobobo mask

Mother and child showing off their new Totobobo mask, a critical defence against sand storm in the street of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

 

 

To cater for growing demand, folks in TOTOBOBO anticipate the introduction of a new anti-pollution mouth mask for cyclist and motorcyclist alike. This new product will be the first of many new designs to diversify applicability and expand protective mask usage to a greater market sector.
TOTOBOBO has made commendable advances since its commencement two years ago. With a expanding user base covering 35 countries, Totobobo mask is set for a faster growth in the coming few years.

The list of the 35 countries:
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
China
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Guatemala
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Italy
Lithuania
Malta
Mexico
Mongolia
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Russia
Singapore
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Taiwan
Thailand
United Kingdom
United States
Vietnam

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Face mask may reduce heart attack in polluted air

by info on March 14, 2009

A research published on 13-3-2009 in the Particle and Fibre Toxicology indicates that wearing a respirator may reduce the risk of heart attack.

“This simple intervention has the potential to protect susceptible individuals and prevent cardiovascular events in cities with high concentrations of ambient air pollution.” stated in the website.

The research was led by Dr. Jeremy Lingguish of the Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Edinburgh University. The team consist of experts from Centre for Environmental Health (The Netherlands), Institute of Occupational Medicine (UK) and Fuwai Hospital in Beijing,  China. 

The randomised controlled study involves 15 volunteer walked on a predefined city route in Baijing. The subject exposed to ambient air pollution and exercise was assessed continuously using portable real-time monitors and global positional system tracking respectively. Cardiovascular effects were assessed by continuous 12-lead electrocardiographic and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Walking test route in Beijing

Walking test route in Beijing

The mask-wearing group result might have been affected due to poor mask-to-face fit. Despite this, the mask wearing group demonstrated least affected by exposure to the air pollution.

Exposure to fine particulate air pollution is known to associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity, but it is not clear how this happen.

In another experiment, Magnus Lundbäck  et al developed a simple non-invasive method of assessing arterial stiffness and apply the method to demonstrate exposure to unnoticable among of diesel exhasut can indeed increase arterial stiffness. This is possibly the best way to explain the link between air pollution and heart attack.

The team from Sweden and UK discovered that men exposed to small, unnoticable concentration of diesel exhaust (350 ug/m3) increased the augmentation pressure by 3 mmHg and augmentation index by 8 %- indicating an increase in arterial stiffness. In a patient with established hypertension or coronary artery disease, small changes in central aortic pressure may be sufficient to trigger an acute cardiovascular event (e.g. heart attack, or stroke)

A point to note is PM concentrations can regularly reach levels of 300 ug/m3 and above in heavy traffic, occupational settings, and in the world’s largest cities.

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Singapore mask hits 20th country

March 8, 2009

Sunday, March 08, 2009, is not only the International Women’s day, it is also a new milestone for Totobobo mask-the Singapore designed and produced respirator mask has been sold to 20 countries across Asia, Europe and America! The milestone order was received from Israel at 3:23am in the morning. “I am surprised that my order [...]

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Cycling through Asia without pollution

June 10, 2008

Herve and Goska of Develotour pioneered an interesting way to measure and visualize air pollution. On a yearlong bicycle trek across the continent, the couple traveled through several Asian countries. They visited a number of major Asian metropolises and experienced firsthand their respective air qualities. In each locale they wore TOTOBOBO filtration masks to protect [...]

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