As cities expand, populations rise and factories grow, air pollution thrives. While London (much to the chagrin of regular drivers) has implemented a variety of anti-pollution laws in the form of ULEZ, congestion charges and more, there’s truly no escaping the big smoke of the Big Smoke.
In recent years, wellness-focused brands have capitalised on an increasing fear of the effects of our daily exposure to high levels of air pollution. From skincare brands offering up anti-pollution drops to extreme cases like the Dyson Zone mask, it seems as though we’re being sequestered into a post-Covid space which rallies against the sharing of remotely contaminated air.
While we’re certainly not criticising the desire to protect oneself from harmful, airborne contaminants, there’s something painfully miasmic about the whole thing.
In reality, able-bodied and healthy individuals can safely be exposed to air pollution for limited amounts of time during the day without worrying about greater health concerns. However, big city living forces us to take purer air wherever we can find it, even if solving the problem is up to the government rather than us as individuals.
The question remains, can high-tech devices like air purifiers which promise to remove contaminants from our homes actually help to improve our general well-being, given we’re likely to be exposed to those horrible bacteria, viruses and chemicals that we’re supposed to fear from the minute we step foot out the door?
I, for one, will take easy breathing from the comfort of my home over stuffy, petrol-infested air which trails into my living space as soon as the window is open a sliver. Molekule has been doing the research for over 25 years, overtaking Dyson by a country mile in terms of air purification expertise, making them a safe bet when it comes to investing in a pricey clean air device.
Given that my brother and sister-in-law have a few-week-old newborn at home, I was keen to test out the Molekule Air Pro before I could confidently recommend it for the health and well-being of my little niece. Plus, as a long-time sufferer of hay fever struggling in the British summertime, I was ready to see a noticeable change. Keep scrolling for an in-depth review.
Buy now: Molekule Air Pro - £799.99, Amazon
Key Specifications
- Room size coverage: Up to 1000 sq ft (92.9 m²) with avg. 8-ft. ceilings
- Detection: Particulate matter (PM1, PM2.5, PM10) down to 0.3 µm, VOCs, CO2, relative humidity
- Automated modes: Auto Protect. Standard & Quiet
- Control: Touch display & app
- Fan speeds: 6 manual speeds
- Handle: Vegan leathe
- Filters: PECO-HEPA Tri-Power filter
- Power consumption: Lowest speed — 26 W/h | Highest speed — 123 W/h (3-prong power plug)
- Sound levels: Lowest speed — 33 dBa Highest speed — 64 dBa
- Cord length: 70.87 in. (180 cm)
- Size: 23.1 in. (58.6 cm) high, 10.9 in. (27.8 cm) wide
- Weight: 22.9 lbs (10.38 kg)
- Warranty: 2-year limited
- FDA clearance: 510(k) Class II: Cleared for medical use to destroy bacteria, viruses & mould, and collect particles
Design
Gloriously designed, from the minute you take the Molekule Air Pro out of the box, it becomes immediately clear why the chic, sparkling silver device was so long in the making. It’ll give Dyson a run for their money in all the Design Awards.
I tested their newest air purifier, the Air Pro, which is considerably larger and more expensive than the Air Mini (58.6cm vs 30.48cm high, $359.99 vs $1014.99 in price). In my one-bedroom flat, this made the already big device seem disproportionately behemoth, given it’s designed to accommodate spaces up to 1000 sq. ft, and mine measures approximately 410 sq. ft.
How does it work?
Fascinatingly, according to Molekule, indoor air can be up to five times dirtier than outdoor air, which is why they’re pushing to expand the benefits of PECO technology beyond the home. The medical-grade PECO-HEPA Tri-Power carbon filter works by breaking down organic matter, inactivating harmful pathogens and turning VOCs (volatile organic compounds like viruses, bacteria, mould spores) into gases like carbon dioxide and water which are then released through the top of the device.
Functionality and companion app
Though brimming with intuitive tech possibilities, I was frankly disappointed by the setup process. The device refused to connect to the iOS application, which itself refused to connect to my very strong Wi-Fi. I was prompted to reset the air purifier three times before it finally connected. I then went to bed, eagerly anticipating waking to a fully calibrated Air Pro (the process takes approximately six hours according to the touchscreen prompts).
Lo and behold, I woke up with a spring in my step and a strangely un-stuffed nose despite sleeping with the balcony door open. I raced to my Air Pro, opened the app, and found that it had once again disconnected. The only difference I could spot was that the previously green indicator of ‘Good’ air quality had shifted to an amber ‘Moderate’.
While the app isn’t necessarily essential, I was looking forward to studying the outcome of its overnight shift. It had promised me wondrous graphs showing what contaminants are most prevalent in my home, as well as a detailed map of my air quality history later down the line. Since I had to get to the office, I didn’t have time to reset and restart the device. Plus, I’d be losing those six hours of calibration.
Check back in a month for an additional update on the overall effects on my general well-being.
Verdict
Molekule Air Pro
Molekule is a legacy company which was founded in 2014 by Jaya Rao and Dilip Goswami. The children of Dr Yogi Goswami who began developing a new clean air technology to address the impact of polluted air when he was a professor at the University of Florida between 1995 and 2005. He developed PECO (photoelectrochemical oxidation) which underwent rigorous testing between 2006 and 2015. Dr Goswami has published over 23 reports on his findings.
Dilip and Jaya continued Dr Goswami’s mission by inventing the Molekule Air, the first purifier to destroy pollutants at a molecular level. A 2021 study demonstrated that Molekule’s air purification technology ‘inactivates’ H1N1 flu virus and coronavirus strains up to 99.99 per cent with the help of a medical-grade PECO-HEPA Tri-Power carbon filter.
While the powerful air purifying device can certainly be relied upon to find and destroy viruses and improve overall health and well-being in the long term, right now the technology is unaffordable for the average UK-based, city-dwelling citizen. Replacement filters for the Air Mini cost $79.99/ £61.88 + shipping on a six-month subscription basis (£93.95 via Amazon), while the Air Pro will set you back $139.99/ £108.29 + shipping every six months (£152.24 via Amazon).
The technology remains wildly impressive, and the mould-destroying, dust-preventing and surprisingly cooling device is well worth the investment for the immuno-compromised and those with newborn babies at home.
Buy now £799.99, Amazon
