Air quality

Pollution is a global problem

City traffic, agriculture and industry all generate emissions. Pollutants and particles enter the air and endanger our health. MANN+HUMMEL is actively engaged in finding solutions.

Please breathe in deeply!

If you follow this request in many parts of the world you will put yourself in danger. This may be due to smog caused by traffic and industry in big cities, dust turbulence in the countryside, or unhealthy pollution in indoor spaces caused by chemicals. The level of air pollution is already starting to have a negative effect on our climate and environment and slowly but surely is becoming a risk to the health of people. Air pollution is already today the fourth most likely cause of death. 92 percent of the world's population is affected by a level of air pollution which exceeds the safety limits of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Contamination of ambient air is a global problem

What do the cities of Zabol in Iran, Gwalior and Allahabad in India and Riad in Saudi Arabia have in common? They hold the top positions on the list of cities in the world with the worst air quality. This is a ranking which the cities are surely not proud of. In the meantime, however, bad air quality has become part of everyday life, with visible consequences. The people in Singapore repeatedly have to suffer from the so-called "haze". Fire clearances and smoldering fires on the land of neighboring countries cause the heavy air pollution in the Asian city state.

Cities in the north of China such as Beijing are mainly affected by smog in the winter months. In this area, the inhabitants burn an above-average amount of coal to heat their houses. In the USA the increased extraction of oil and gas in recent years has led to a higher exposure to ozone. And in Germany, the city of Stuttgart has now become known in the country for its air pollution alerts. In the months from October to April, the pollution of the air here caused by particulates is regularly higher than the legally allowed limits.

Partly even more dangerous is the air in inside spaces

What seems to be a safe place inside as a refuge to escape air pollution outside is partly more dangerous for our health. We spend 90 percent of our time inside buildings and something many of us are unaware of is that the air pollution here can be much higher than outside. This is because people are also exposed to particulates and other harmful substances. In addition, there is a risk to their health from substances readily available in buildings. These include formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

MANN+HUMMEL ensures clean air

MANN+HUMMEL has recognized the seriousness of the situation regarding bad air quality indoors and outdoors and is working on solutions. Our aim is to show that the economy and the environment are not a contradiction in the sense of real sustainability.

Therefore, our researchers are working every day on new developments to reduce the level of pollutants in the air. With success: our cabin filters for vehicles and air filters for buildings are already able to ensure clean indoor air. They protect human health against nitrogen dioxide, allergens, ozone and particulates.

The aim of our current research activities with particulate and brake particle filters is to reduce the local level of air pollution in the ambient air outdoors.