Predictive model for vehicle air exchange rates based on a large, representative sample.

ABSTRACT: The in-vehicle microenvironment is an important route of exposure to traffic-related pollutants, particularly ultrafine particles. However, significant particle losses can occur under conditions of low air exchange rate (AER) when windows are closed and air is recirculating. AERs are lower for newer vehicles and at lower speeds. Despite the importance of AER in affecting in-vehicle particle exposures, few studies have characterized AER and all have tested only a small number of cars. One reason for this is the difficulty in measuring AER with tracer gases such as SF(6), the most common method. We developed a simplified yet accurate method for determining AER using the occupants' own production of CO(2), a convenient compound to measure. By measuring initial CO(2) build-up rates and equilib

SUBMITTER: Fruin SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4041012 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature