Frequently asked questions

Air pollution consists of dust, chemicals and biological components.

Air monitoring studies have found that emissions from vehicles contribute 40-50 per cent of all air pollutants. Industrial sources are the next biggest contributor followed by construction activities and natural sources such as fires and volcanoes.

The World Health Organisation estimated in 2007 that 6,300 deaths per year were a result of outdoor air pollution.

Studies have identified that at heavy traffic areas in Vietnam the concentration of chemicals and dust particles regularly exceed the recommended air quality standards.

Reducing air pollution in urban and industrial areas has been identified as a priority area by the Strategic Orientation for Sustainable Development in Viet Nam (Viet Nam Agenda 21).

Every time we start an engine a mixture of petrol and air explodes and forms hundreds of chemicals. Some of the chemicals include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone.

Traffic fumes also consist of larger organic chemicals such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Some of these chemicals stay in the gas phase, while others attach to dust particles.

Man-made particles are produced from buses, cars, motorbikes and from coal-fired power stations, fireplaces and incinerators. Particles are classified into the larger particles (PM10) and fine particles (PM2.5)

Karibon facewear contain Activated Carbon Cloth (ACC). ACC is proven anti-pollution technology capable of capturing large organic chemicals.

One group of chemicals that ACC can capture is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A number of PAHs emitted from vehicles are classified as causing cancer in humans.

Independent laboratory testing found that Karibon facewear can block very small dust particles.

We recommend that you replace your Karibon facewear every 6 months.

ACC can capture large organic chemicals and will not release them once they are captured during the 6 months of use.

The amount of chemicals that ACC captures is dependent on how often you use your mask and the type and level of pollution.

We provided the UK manufacturer of our ACC with measured concentrations of air pollutants in Asian cities. The manufacturers confirmed that their testing had proven that ACC was capable of capturing a wide range of large organic chemicals found in air pollution.

The ACC is capable of capturing up to its own weight in certain organic chemicals under the right conditions.

For example the manufacturer showed that ACC could capture up to 50 per cent of benzo(a)pyrene a known human cancer causing agent.

ACC is 100 per cent activated carbon woven into a thread. The tiny threads have a very large surface area which increases the cloth’s ability to capture large organic chemicals.

Every facemask is only as good as the seal between your face and the mask. Facewear should be worn completely unfolded with the ear-bands pulling tight against your ears. The nose clip should be pushed down onto the bridge of your nose making a tight seal.

A good indication that your mask is fitted correctly is that it will expand and contract as you exhale and inhale.

We recommend you wash the mask once a week. You should handwash the mask in warm water (‹40°C) with a normal washing products.

The supplier of the activated carbon cloth conducted rigorous wash testing and found it to be capable of capturing chemicals after more than 50 washes.

We recommend using a normal washing powder or liquid

We recommend you should replace your facemask every six months.

No. We have designed and tested the masks for personal use only.