The smog-eating TOWER: 'World's largest air purifier' building will suck pollutants from the skies to lock them inside jewelry

• Dutch designers are raising money to make the Smog Free Tower
• Globe-trotting tall structure would be the 'world's largest air purifier' 
• It will filter air and remove smog particles to create 'bubbles' of clean air
• Smog collected will be made into cubes used in distinctive jewellery 

It's no secret that the air of some of the world's most highly populated cities is thick with smog and harmful pollutants.

Now a team of Dutch designers have come up with an innovative solution to clean up our skies - and create jewellery in the process.

The Smog Free Tower is intended to be the 'largest purifier in the world' and create a 'cube of smog' from every 1,000 cubic metres of air it cleans.

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The Smog Free Tower (illustrated left) is intended to be the 'largest purifier in the world' and create a 'bubble' of smog-free sky (illustrated right) and a 'cube of smog' from every 1,000 cubic metres of air it cleans

Designers from Studio Roosegaarde in Rotterdam are raising money on Kickstarter to make their tower a reality and could begin building as soon as next month, The Creators Project reported.

The plan is to build the large air purifier and take it on tour around the world to create 'bubbles' of clean air.

The machine will harvest smog, which will be compressed into cubes that will be used to make quirky jewellery.

Each cube will be made from smog collected from 35,315 cubic feet (1,000 cubic metres) of poor quality air and rings, for example will have a clear cube of acrylic fixed to them with a floating cube of black smog inside.

The machine will harvest smog (pictured being held by designer Daan Roosegaarde) which will be used to make quirky jewellery, because the 'smog cubes' will be incorporated into the design

Each cube will be made from smog collected from 35,315 cubit feet (1,000 cubic metres) of air (pictured) and look like a clear cube with a floating black cube inside it.

AIR POLLUTION LINKED TO RAISED STROKE RISK 

Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dying from stroke say British researchers.

A recent review found a link with short-term exposure to carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and soot particles.

The review shows a rising risk of hospital admission or death from stroke over the week following exposure, in line with higher concentrations of pollutants.

A second study from US researchers shows a possible link with anxiety in people recently exposed to air pollution.

New findings come from a review of data in 100 studies including six million stroke events in 28 countries published in The BMJ.

The strongest adverse effects were seen on the same day of exposure to PM2.5 - small particles that are around 2.5 micrometres, or 30 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair.

There was also a link between PM10 and other pollutants with increased



risk of hospitalisation or death from stroke.

Daan Roosegaarde, who is leading the project, writes on Kickstarter, writes: 'The Smog Free Tower is the first step of the Smog Free Movement: our dream of a clean future in which people work together to stop pollution.

'We believe that the Smog Free Tower provides a unique opportunity to get people to understand the issue of air pollution through direct experience.

'The bubble of clean air that the Smog Free Tower generates will be a place that brings people together to work and think about how we can free our cities of smog.'

The idea of the tower began three years ago during a trip to smoggy Beijing.

Since then, an indoor prototype has been developed and the team is ready to build a real working version, which will first work its magic in Rotterdam.

The tower will then travel around the world, from city to city, from Beijing to Paris and Los Angeles to Mexico City, if enough funds are raised.

The structure will be 23 feet tall (7 metres tall) and use patented technology to filter the surrounding air.

The smog free tower: the world's largest air-purifier!

The tower will then travel around the world, from city to city, from Beijing to Paris and Los Angeles to Mexico City, if enough funds are raised. A stock image of a woman peering through the smog to see the Forbidden City in Beijing is shown

The team believes that in areas affected by severe air pollution, the Smog Free Tower will harvest enough smog to produce over 3,500 Smog Free Cubes a day. This one has been made into a $250 ring

Ionic filters will charge and remove smog particles, blowing fresh air out of the tower's side vents.

This will create a high-pressure zone, which the team estimate can create a bubble that consistently has 75 percent less smog than elsewhere.

Roosegaarde said: 'We're basically building the largest air purifier in the world.'

'The technology is already used indoors in hospitals. It's safe and tested, we just build the largest one outdoors.'

The team believes that in areas affected by severe air pollution, the Smog Free Tower will harvest enough smog to produce over 3,500 'Smog Free Cubes' a day.

The 23 ft tall tower will tower will use ionic filters to charge and remove smog particles (illustrated in this diagram), blowing fresh air out. Teh technology is already used in hospitals, for example

The plan is to produce one million of these cubes in total.

Backers can pre-order a smog free cube for €50 (£35 or $55) on Kickstarter or a smog free ring or cufflinks for €250 (£177 and $276), which are estimated to ship in December.

Roosegaarde told MailOnline: 'I always try to make things which improve life.

'I want to show that people they can be part of the solution.

'The rings may not be the solution but they can bridge the gap between where we are now and where we need to be.'

The team believes that in areas affected by severe air pollution, the Smog Free Tower will harvest enough smog to produce over 3,500 Smog Free Cubes a day. A satellite image of smog over LA is shown.