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Surakarta surgical department creates mobile air filter for haze victims
Take this: Doctors from the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) distribute masks to motorists in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Oct 1, 2015
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Take this: Doctors from the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) distribute masks to motorists in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Oct 1, 2015. They informed motorists about how to wear masks and protect themselves from the haze that has blanketed Riau and other provinces.(Antara/Rony Muharrman) (IDI) distribute masks to motorists in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Oct 1, 2015. They informed motorists about how to wear masks and protect themselves from the haze that has blanketed Riau and other provinces.(Antara/Rony Muharrman)
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span class="inline inline-center">Take this: Doctors from the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) distribute masks to motorists in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Oct 1, 2015. They informed motorists about how to wear masks and protect themselves from the haze that has blanketed Riau and other provinces.(Antara/Rony Muharrman)
A team at the surgical department of Sebelas Maret University and Moewardi Hospital in Surakarta, Central Java, have created an affordable air filter aimed at helping people living in areas severely affected by haze.
Darmawan Ismail, the head of the team, said the instrument, named SUNS (Surgeons of UNS), weighed 100 grams and costed only Rp 20,000. It could be even cheaper, he added, if it was mass produced.
The ongoing haze crisis in Sumatra and Kalimantan inspired the team to make the air filter. People living in affected areas, breathing in toxic fumes, could suffer from respiratory illnesses, Darmawan said.
"This tool can be mass produced as it only needs modest and cheap materials," he said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Darmawan explained that the team used mica plastic, thin fibers and masks for the prototype. One valve connects the mica box with a mask for clean air to be breathed in and another valve is used to exhaust dirty air.
"The instrument functions as an air filter, air moisturizer and air freshener."
"Our trials show that it can help someone breathe in clean air while in the middle of haze so it could decrease the likelihood of respiratory illness," he said, adding that the team would serve as instructors for people and communities wanting to make the device themselves.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported on Saturday that there have been 10 people killed and 503,000 people hit with respiratory illness from the 43 million affected by the toxic smoke across 6 provinces. (rin)
