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Why Totobobo SuperCool mask sucks?

by info on July 6, 2010

SuperCool pollution mask helps cyclist and motorcyclist to fight traffic fume

SuperCool pollution mask helps cyclist and motorcyclist to fight traffic fume

Cyclists and Motorcyclists! If you are looking for a pollution mask that really sucks, your long awaiting search has come to an end. The new pollution mask from TOTOBOBO, called SuperCool mask, is designed to suck more, traffic fume that is— leaving only the clean air for your lung. Its high efficient filter keeps the nasty nano-particles out and doesn’t diminish the oxygen you pull in with each breath.

“The SuperCool is the world’s first pollution mask with the nose uncovered. Such unexpected feature brings surprising advantages. First of all, exhaling through the nostrils will never fog up your glasses. Having the nose free means you can clear your nose while protecting your lungs – a necessary edge when racing traffic or just cruising through town.” according to Francis Chu, a cyclist and the designer of SuperCool. “You can even switch between nose and mouth breathing instantly when riding through alternate clean and polluted area – no need to stop to remove or put on the mask.”

Whereas other masks require intense scrubbing to keep them clean, the TOTOBOBO can be washed and dried within minutes. Your breathing gear will no longer have a funky film of week-old bacteria. Even if you do, the SuperCool is easier to clean than the dishes in your sink. The rest of your cycling gear can be smelly and gross, but at least the one that covering your face should be kept clean—and odor free. Oh, and germs? No worries. The SuperCool is embedded with anti-microbial Silver ion inside out so nothing can grow on it.

The SuperCool mask is customizable to fit your face as need be. This helps to keep the best fit and seal. It also prevents your roommate or sibling from borrowing it and getting it covered in their germs.

The only way the TOTOBOBO SuperCool doesn’t suck is the SSS-look – Sleek, Slick and Slim, a far cry from other protective masks which look like the gear of a Storm-trooper from Star Wars. The SuperCool is small enough to fold into your pocket and weighs next to nothing (18 grams). It will slide under any helmet and leave plenty of rooms for glasses or goggles.

Best of all, the TOTOBOBO SuperCool mask is reusable, just replacing the filters as it turns grey. The SuperCool mask and filter are now available at totobobo.com. You will even get a free reusable pouch for carrying the mask!

About Totobobo:
Totobobo is the world’s first customizable respiratory mask designed to fit both adults and children. It has been sold to over 35 countries. Totobobo mask uses patented technology that ensures comfort and good protection from pollutants.
Totobobo is a trade mark of Dream Lab One Pte. Ltd.

Related:
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

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Can cycling and walking be bad for your health?

by info on December 14, 2009

Dear EarthTalk: I ride my bike to work along busy urban streets. Should I be worried about inhaling pollutants from vehicle emissions and other sources?

– J. Kaufman, San Francisco, CA

Aside from the obvious physical safety considerations (especially when talking on a cell phone!), biking on highly trafficked roads exposes riders to considerable amounts of fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds spewing out of tailpipes

Aside from the obvious physical safety considerations (especially when talking on a cell phone!), biking on highly trafficked roads exposes riders to considerable amounts of fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds spewing out of tailpipes © Getty Images

Aside from the obvious physical safety considerations (especially when talking on a cell phone!), biking on highly trafficked roads exposes riders to considerable amounts of fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds spewing out of tailpipes.

The short answer is, yes, probably. Cars, trucks and buses emit considerable amounts of airborne pollution as they make their ways along city streets and highways. The fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) spewing out of tailpipes have been linked to a wide range of human health problems, from headaches to respiratory illness to cancer. Though Australian researchers found that exposure to these pollutants is actually higher while riding inside a vehicle than while riding a bike, turning your handlebars in the direction of back roads might still be a good idea, for safety’s sake as well.
Western Washington University Geophysicist Bernie Housen, concerned about the air quality on his own bicycle commute along busy Bellingham roads, recently launched a study of the magnetism in local trees to gauge air quality along his route and elsewhere in his region. The magnetism in a tree’s leaves is created by tiny particles of iron oxides and other pollutants that drift through the air, emanating primarily from eroding vehicle brake pads and diesel exhaust. The particles are small enough to pass through our nasal passages and get lodged in our lungs. Housen and his colleagues found 10 times as much magnetism on urban roadside tree leaves as on their rural counterparts that contend with little traffic.

Housen has also altered his own bike route to campus to avoid the more polluted thoroughfares. “One underlying concern is that if you are riding your bike, you are being more physically active; you are breathing deeper and breathing more air in, and so if you are doing that in an area where there is a concentrated elevation of this material it might not be such a good thing,” he added.

Ironically, many cities that offer dedicated bike lanes often lay them out right next to busy bus lanes, unintentionally ensuring that bicyclists breathe in as much diesel exhaust as possible. “I ride along one of these high-traffic bus routes,” Housen says, “and … there was between two and five or six times more magnetic fine particulate matter along the bus route than [on less-busy streets].” Housen would like to expand his research so it could be used by urban planners to better design bike and pedestrian routes so as not to intermingle so much diesel transit and pedestrian/bicycle traffic.

Of course, there are other ways to track urban pollution levels. In the UK, for instance, researchers from the government-funded Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council have created the Urban Pollution Monitoring Project, which builds and distributes GPS-enabled mobile pollution sensing systems that can be carried by hand or placed on a bike rack. The group is using data gleaned from the sensors to map where and when pollution levels are at their highest around London and other UK cities, and hopes to use its research to influence the way roads and urban areas are planned in the future as well.

Those who want or need to keep on riding through polluted areas should consider wearing an anti-pollution respiratory mask, many of which can filter out upwards of 95 percent of particulate pollution before it enters the human lung. Some leading manufacturers include Totobobo, G-Flow and Respro.

CONTACTS: Urban Pollution Monitoring Project; Totobobo; G-Flow; Respro.

EarthTalk is now a book! Details and order information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EARTHTALK, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit your question at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk.html; or e-mail us at: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

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12 useful features of Totobobo mask for cyclist

by info on September 6, 2009

“My girlfriend Sarah and I have been using and very much enjoying the anti-pollution Totobobo masks in New Delhi – India. I want to say thanks… The radio taxis here have gone wacko and so we are spending a lot more time in rickshaws. I used to have a very bad cough and had to take allergy medicine but it seems to have resolved itself! no more medicine – no more coughs. ” – Sam

Personal experience is critical for the development of innovative technology. I cycle to work daily, and this allows me opportunity to test a number of different safety masks. These provide me with first hand evaluation of products from a cyclist’s perspective. Gathering input from other cyclists and working with their feedback helps take into account alternative climates and riding issues. All in all, I have found that the demands of a cyclist are many and, at times, contradictory. Here are a few:

Breathing versus Protection:
Cyclists need to breathe heavily, but the resistance through a protective filter can uncomfortable and increase strain. A filter with low air resistance would be better, but would be less effective in filtering. Most filters with high protection levels are difficult to breathe through, making finding the goldilocks zone of filtration and “breatheability” critical.

Heat Dissipation:
In a cycling workout blood is pumped vigorously through the body and heat is generated. A mask that traps heat is a major problem, because it reduces the intake of oxygen and makes breathing more difficult. Unfortunately, most masks on the market are heat-traps.

Easy on, easy off:
If only part of one’s commute involves heavy traffic and wearing a mask, why not wear it as needed? A well-designed mask should take this into account. The user should be able to remove and replace the mask with ease while cycling.

Portability:
Additional weight to carry while riding is a nuisance. Protective masks should be compact and lightweight. This makes bringing the mask and using the mask more likely and easier to do.

But rather than drone on further, let me cut to the chase and explain TOTOBOBO’s 12 features relevant to cyclists:

1) Powerful filter: Breathe as easily as not wearing a mask. With the TOTOBOBO filter, air moves freely while still capturing at least 94% of pollutants.

2) Fold flat: Compact and portable, the TOTOBOBO mask is no burden to carry around when not in use. Just fold it up and stick in your pocket.

3) Lightweight: Only 20g, unparalleled among reusable facial protection.

4) Low profile: The mask itself is only .5mm thick, like a second skin over your nose and mouth. It is nonintrusive, and can be worn with glasses or a helmet with no problems.

5) Comfortable strap: Less tension, more comfort. The unique, flexible strap may look flimsy but is surprisingly strong. The mask requires little tension to keep firmly in place with this plastic strap.

6) One hand on/off: With one hand you can take the mask off or put it back on while never stopping the bike.

7) Active valve: The mask acts as a one-way valve; as you breathe, so does the mask.

8) Raised structure: The mask’s design keeps the filter fibers away from your mouth and nose.

9) Customized fit: One mask fits all. The mask adapts to any face shape or size.

10) Anti-viral: A silver ion anti-viral agent stops any virus from growing on the mask, and lasts as long as the mask does.

11) Washable and reusable: Washable with soap and water. Easy and safe.

12) Transparent: The clear masks allows easy adjustment and checking of an optimal seal.

TOTOBOBO is the most comfortable mask on the market for cyclists, but it is by no means perfect. If you are considering using it, be aware of moisture trapping and potential fogging of your glasses. These can be mitigated by tightening the upper strap and loosening the lower strap, or, when exhaling, closing your mouth to break the seal below the chin, allowing the trapped moisture to escape.

Have you used a TOTOBOBO mask before? Have I missed anything?

Related:

Protect your lungs when riding in the city

How to choose a pollution mask for cyclist?

How to clean TOTOBOBO mask for reuse?

Beijing: dirty on the outside, clean on the inside?

The Bangalore test

Your masks are very useful in India, thanks!

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How to choose a pollution mask for cycling?

by info on October 4, 2008

Cycling is the greenest and healthiest mode of transportation, and its popularity in urban environments is growing. But cyclists face a major problem in cities: aerial pollution. In order to safely cycle without taking in a lungful of smog, soot, and who knows what else, a filtration mask is the solution. Cyclists worldwide would greatly benefit from the development of a rider-friendly respiratory mask.

Commuters riding through heavy motor vehicle traffic could wear protective masks to reduce harmful inhalation, but it is hard to decide which mask is effective for cyclist.

Nagaraj, a cycling enthusiast from Bangalore, India, compared the TOTOBOBO mask with the Respro mask as a means of quality evaluation. His review is detail and comprehensive. In summary the following criterion serve as a useful reference tool for all cyclists:

Respro mask ……………………………………………….. TOTOBOBO mask

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FIT & SEAL – The mask ought to form a seal against the wearer’s face so that airflow is limited to the filter intake.

FILTER – Capable of keeping microscopic particles as well as noxious gases out.

COMFORT – Breathing with the mask on should be unlabored, condensation formation on the inside of the mask should be limited. The mask should be lightweight to minimize wearer discomfort.

EASE OF USE – Attachment, cleaning, and carrying should all be simple tasks involving a minimum of hassle.

COST – Cost of the mask, and replacement filters, should be reasonable.

AVAILABILITY – For ease of acquisition and replacement, masks and filters should be readily available.

In evaluating either mask, Nagaraj arrived at the conlcusion that TOTOBOBO and Respro are both top-grade products. The Respro mask filters carbon monoxide and other harmful gases through its Dynamically Activated Charcoal Cloth (DACC), and its velcro strap permits easy and secure attachment. On the other hand, the TOTOBOBO mask allows more comfortable breathing, is significantly lighter, and is a fraction of the cost.

Totobobo mask is very effective. It seals your nose and mouth completely. With the pollution levels in Bangalore, within 45 minutes of its usage, the filters turned black for me.- Nagaraj, India

There are other pollution-reducing masks on the market, but each has its drawbacks. Although the disposable N95 is lightweight and cost-effective, purchase for daily use runs up a considerable tab. Industrial gas masks seal to the face the best and may be the most economical, but who wants wear a heavy duty mask in public? They are unattractive and excessive for ordinary daily use. Moreover, unless a gas mask is professionally fit-tested, particulates will easily enter nonetheless.

N95 mask ……………………….…….…….……………. Reusable gas mask

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A cyclist’s cost-benefit analysis indicates that the ideal balanced solution is the TOTOBOBO mask. Below are features of the TOTOBOBO that make it ideal for cyclists and motorcyclists:

Ultra flexible strap 3 times as tough as rubber

Electrolet filter- This European design filters the finest of airborne particulates— as small as .3 microns— since suspended particulate matter (SPM) is most concerning. Very fine pollution is known to damage the lungs and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ultra-flexible strap- Although the invisible strap looks delicate, it lasts three times longer than rubber and can be stretched four times its length more than five thousand times without breaking. Additionally, removing the mask while riding the bike is made especially simple with this feature. Easy removal of the TOTOBOBO mask while riding allows greater user comfort and control.

Mask Flexibility- The mask’s unique, flexible material permits adaptability for a variety of workout regimens. The following breathing technique will assist those seeking an invigorating workout or simply a cruise on a bike:
- inhale through the mouth: stretching the mask up and down will tighten the seal for ideal filtration
-exhale through the nose: this will break the seal for ease in exhaling.
In hot weather, this technique will reduce heat and moisture in the mask. TOTOBOBO might be the coolest mask on the market, but every trick to reduce heat helps. I admit that wearing any mask, even the TOTOBOBO, is never as comfortable as no mask at all.

Adaptive to a range of face sizes- One mask fits all. Shopkeepers and customers benefit from the simplicity of a single size that can be fitted. No need to stock multiple sizes.

Easy to clean- Washing and wiping down in a hurry is easy, and the mask dries instantly.

Anti-viral- You never know what you might catch on the road, so the TOTOBOBO mask is made with a silver ion anti-viral material that will prevent any viruses from growing on the mask.

The following chart sums up the benefits for cyclists in wearing a TOTOBOBO mask:

What other concerns might need addressing as a cyclist? Let us know!

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Related:
Totobobo new SuperCool mask for cyclist sucks?

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

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Beijing: dirty on the outside, clean on the inside?

June 22, 2008

10 June 2008 Hervé Bonnaveira
Crossing a megalopolis by bike gives you a good idea of how polluted it is. Arriving in the Chinese capital from the South we followed a long line of thermal power stations and factory chimneys, which turned our totobobo anti-pollution filters black after 6 hours of use. Arriving in the Chinese [...]

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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 [...]

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