The Power Trio Of Air Filtration - Because 3 Is A Magic Number

The Power Trio 

of Efficient Air Filtering

The Coronavirus pandemic has seen clean air conditions come to the forefront of our priorities. For a long time air quality has been subpar, predominantly in urban areas, with reports from W.H.O stating 1 in 9 people are dying from air pollution.  While it may not be possible to reduce air pollution overnight, we can reduce the negative health implications in our own personal space, now. Nosy was created before Covid-19 with a dual filtration system, designed to target and monitor your intake of toxic air particles. Now we have the answer to your antiviral concerns as well, with the introduction of NosyX: bringing together our existing anti-pollution technology with an added layer of physical protection, giving you the power trio of protection with a 3-ply filter system; filtering and destroying all types of air pollutants, bacteria, and viruses.


HEPA Filter

Short for “High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing”, HEPA constitutes a benchmark for efficient air filters in vacuums and air purifiers. 

So, what does it actually do?

HEPA filters comprise a web of fiberglass densely arranged to form a fibrous net. As the polluted air passes through, the particulate matter gets caught in this web in different ways, depending on the particle size.


Particles larger than 1 micron are too big to get through the gaps between glass fibers, so they get stuck.


PM10 (e.g., bacteria, dust, mold) have diameters between 0.3 and 1 microns. Technically, these particles are small enough to pass through the HEPA filter. But, there is more to the story...

The airflow across a HEPA filter has lots of curves and bends. When particulates go through a bend, they fail to make that sharp turn because they are heavier than the gas molecules they follow. When stuck at the turning point, these particles adhere to the nearest fiberglass.


The behavior of particles smaller than 0.3 microns is similar to that of an arcade bouncing-ball game; i.e. these particles bounce around in zigzags every time they hit a gas molecule until they finally run into the fibers and get stuck.

What happens at 0.3 microns?

According to The US and European standards, an efficient air filter should capture particles of 0.3 microns at an efficiency above 99.97% [1][2]. 

So, what is the big deal about 0.3 microns?

Particles of this size exhibit unique behavior because they are too large to bounce around but too small for the interception. That Is why scientists called them the “Most Penetrating Particle Size” (MPPS). In other words, HEPA filters have the hardest time with MPPS. 

With any other particle smaller or larger than 0.3 microns, HEPA filters have a near 100% filtering rate. These particles include dust mites, pet dander, tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, and bacteria. 

The complex layout of fibers not only provides near-perfect filtering but also maximizes the passage for the filtered air. Compared to cloth, plastic, and silicone masks, HEPA boasts the perfect balance of filtering and breathability. That’s why it was inevitable for HEPA to become our first choice of use in Nosy’s filters.

Activated Carbon

We have established the efficacy of HEPA in filtering particulate matter, but what about gaseous pollutants? Gases don’t move the same way as solid particles, so a HEPA filter cannot capture them alone.

That’s where activated carbon comes in. 

Activated carbon filters consist of a bed of activated charcoal that can capture “Volatile Organic Compounds” (VOCs) and toxic gases. This crystal bed has numerous tiny holes, which maximize the contact area of the carbon filter. So even a tiny portion of activated carbon can capture an infinite number of gas molecules. 

Activated carbon filters are particularly successful at removing VOCs, such as benzene, toluene, and chlorine, often found in tobacco smoke, cleaning products, and paints. Removal of VOCs is crucial for protection against lung, liver, kidney, and brain damage caused by long term exposure. Activated carbons are also effective against the removal of traffic pollutants, such as NOx and SO2, which aggravate various respiratory illnesses including asthma, bronchitis, and COPD.

For optimum protection we recommend to replace an activated carbon filter regularly because they can get clogged with the gas molecules over time, which ultimately makes these filters ineffective. Nosy created an easily-detachable filter for the Nosy and NosyX models that can be replaced on a weekly basis (or up to 100 hours of usage).

Silver Coating

Both HEPA and activated carbon filters can allow the passage of airborne pathogens to an extent. Luckily, scientists discovered an extra nudge to achieve perfect air filtering: silver nanoparticles.

Unlike HEPA filter and activated charcoal, silver nanoparticles actively kill bacteria and viruses upon binding. More specifically, the positively charged silver ions penetrate the cell wall and block vital cell activities.

The silver coating has been used as a drinking-water purifier [3] and in air purifiers for hospital sterilisation[4].

This technology has been implemented in the NosyX mouth covering to kill viruses and bacteria, and integrated into our existing nose filter design. Lab tests performed by our partners in Switzerland and Doherty Institute in Australia showed a success rate of 99.997% in killing bacteria and viruses. WOW!

The Clean Air Strategy For The New Decade: NosyX

The cutting-edge Nosy X technology has merged all three air-filtering techniques and squeezed them in to fit in the palm of your hand. 

Inside the nose piece and the mouth covering, HEPA filter and activated carbon were overlapped to form a dual air-filtering effect. Then, both pieces were coated with silver ions for added protection against airborne viruses.

The medical grade airtight seal is sustainable and sweat-resistant and makes NosyX the first wearable and portable air purifier.

 Whether you’re walking, commuting, hiking, shopping, or travelling on long-haul flights, Nosy’s got you covered.



Find out how NosyX works here.

Learn more about different types of air pollutants here.

Learn about the health effects of air pollution here.



[1] European Standard EN 1822-1:2009, "High efficiency air filters (EPA, HEPA and ULPA)", 2009

[2] Barnette, Sonya. "Specification for HEPA Filters Used by DOE Contractors — DOE Technical Standards Program". Retrieved 2019-06-05.

[3] Le, Thanh Son, et al. "Air purification equipment combining a filter coated by silver nanoparticles with a nano-TiO2 photocatalyst for use in hospitals." Advances in Natural Sciences: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 6.1 (2015): 015016.

[4] Fewtrell, Lorna. "Silver: water disinfection and toxicity." Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth (2014).

[5] M.J. (2020) Report on “Viral Stability and Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on Treated Material”. Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Australia


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