Pictures of the smog in Beijing.

China has been struggling with pollution for decades and now has one of the highest rates of pollution and toxic air content in the world. Next month Beijing will be the center of attention when the first bubble-like shield will be launched into the sky to protect people against pollution.

The air purifying contraption is designed to protect up to 20 people at a time and is a canopy which creates an air curtain. The new system was designed in London by the Arua Group engineering company and Hong Kong property developer Sino Group.

The issue of pollution was raised in 2013 when the level of PM2.5, the tiny particles that can harm people’s health was 35 times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. This January the Chinese government decided to invest 1.74 billion dollars to fight this problem.

Development costs of the air purifier prototype technology were around 77,000 dollars. This June it will be used in the Tsingua University area where the company has got the go ahead from building owners and the Chinese government. The new technology is being installed right now onto building canopies and facades.

This new solution to the burning problem in China was already tested in March this year on Hong Kong’s Queen’s Road East street and data showed a 30 to 70 percent reduction of PM2.5 for users underneath the canopy. The way this system works is similar to how in-door air purifiers work.

The filter is still not able to reduce the spread of nitrogen dioxide, but the company says this is just the first version which is focused to stop only the most harmful toxins. Tong, an engineer from the University of Minnesota used his experience with turbines to develop this prototype. He said the future system will be upgraded to protect people from all types of air pollution, but it takes time to make a perfect air purifier.

Plans of Sino Group still don’t include the commercial use of the product however they are focused on cost reductions to make the project commercially viable. Cost effectiveness will help them approach the government and possibly create a long time partnership enabling the product to be used around the country.

Sum-yin Kwong, the chief executive of the Clean Air Network said he strongly supports any new technology that can help improve the quality of air and prevent people from harm, but he added that people need to focus on the root cause and focus more on stopping the source of the problem and not polluting the air at all.