Italian man in Chengdu uses self-made air purifier while cycling  

老外自制抗霾神器背着上班

An Italian young man has stirred curiosity by using a self-made air purifier while riding his bicycle to work in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan province. (Photo/Chinanews.com)

(ECNS) -- An Italian young man has stirred curiosity by using a self-made air purifier while riding his bicycle to work in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan province, according to local media.

The air purifier, which includes an oxygen mask and battery, cost the man more than 1,500 yuan ($245) to build.

An industry expert said that it's possible to convert room air cleaners into portable air purifiers, but that it might not achieve the same results as a good breathing mask. Even in developed countries, an air cleaner needs to exchange the air in the room seven to eight times every hour to ensure excellent indoor air quality, the expert added.

Li Tian, a doctor specializing in pneumology in Nanjing, questioned the effectiveness of the man's system, saying that "It is not safe to carry such big air purifier equipment while riding a bicycle to work."

Some netizens said the air purifier was very cool and that it might sell well. Some even thought that it could be a sales promotion.