Car passengers can reduce pollution risk by closing windows and changing route

Drivers and passengers can inhale significantly lower levels of air pollution by setting their vehicle's ventilation systems more effectively and taking a 'cleaner' route to their destination, a new study reveals. Road transport emissions are major source of urban air pollution - nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) coming from vehicle exhausts, plus non-exhaust emissions such as brake dust, tyre wear and road dust in the case of PM. Outdoor air pollution is estimated to contribute to 40,000 deaths in Britain annually and an estimated 7 million deaths globally - linked to diseases ranging from lung cancer to stroke and respiratory infection. Scientists at the University of Birmingham have found that - if vehicle ventilation is set correctly - drivers and passengers are exposed to up to 49 % less PM2.5 and 34 % less Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) than the on-road levels. They have published their findings in the journal Atmospheric Environment. Lead author Dr. Vasileios Matthaios, from the University of Birmingham, commented: "Exposure to air pollution within the vehicle depends upon both the ventilation setting and the type of route. The lowest exposure to particles and gases is when the windows are closed with recirculation and air conditioning switched on.