Improving Vehicle Cabin Air Quality in Daily Transportation

Drivers and passengers are exposed to traffic-related air pollutants during their ride. This exposure can be high even for a short ride if the driving route includes highly urbanized areas with a large amount of traffic. Unfortunately, the public is vulnerable to this type of exposure in the absence of proper regulations for vehicle cabin air quality. This project aims to assess the effectiveness of portable purifiers and adsorption type cabin filters and establish a test method. First, the study will conduct a survey on portable air purifiers and to identify widely used products. Second, the project team will evaluate the effectiveness of air purifiers when used inside vehicle cabin compared to the existing vehicle cabin filter for particles. Third, the project team will evaluate the effectiveness of air purifiers and adsorption type cabin filters for a gaseous pollutant—nitrogen dioxide—in vehicle cabin conditions. Fourth, the project team will develop a lab-test set-up to specifically evaluate the effectiveness of adsorption type cabin filters. This project will help mitigate the adverse health effects of traffic-related air pollution by reducing their concentrations in vehicle cabins using advanced filters or portable air purifiers.

    Language

    • English

    Project

    • Status: Active
    • Funding: $100,000.00
    • Contract Numbers:

      69A3552348329

    • Sponsor Organizations:

      Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

      University Transportation Centers Program
      Department of Transportation
      Washington, DC  United States  20590
    • Managing Organizations:

      Center for Efficient Mobility

      1111 Rellis Parkway
      Bryan, Texas  United States  77807
    • Project Managers:

      Ocon, Monica

    • Performing Organizations:

      University of California Riverside

      Center for Environmental Research and Technology
      Riverside, CA  United States  92507
    • Principal Investigators:

      Jung, Heejung

    • Start Date: 20250601
    • Expected Completion Date: 20270331
    • Actual Completion Date: 0
    • USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
    • Source Data: 02-15-UCR

    Subject/Index Terms

    Filing Info

    • Accession Number: 01976223
    • Record Type: Research project
    • Source Agency: Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)
    • Contract Numbers: 69A3552348329
    • Files: UTC, RIP
    • Created Date: Jan 13 2026 2:25PM