Sustainability challenge on pollution and air quality inside heavy-duty vehicle cabins

Abstract

Air quality in transportation vehicle cabins is becoming a major concern due to increasing exposure of drivers to harmful gases and aerosol, especially if having in mind that that safety and pollution are positively correlated and adverse events. In order to reduce exposure to air pollution, there is ongoing development of air filters in modern heavy-duty vehicles and increase in protective regulations throughout the world. The aim of this study is to gain insight into extent of pollutants in heavy-duty vehicle cabins, in which drivers spend a large amount of their working (and spare) time, and the necessity for use of air filtration systems. Both experimental results and modelling approach applied in this manuscript reveal the importance of filtration of cabin air, and indicate good correlation between experimental and mathematical results from field measurements conducted in a highly polluted city. Namely, this paper reveals excellent results with the HECA filter which have potential to significantly reduce pollution in the cabin.