Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vehicle passengers may be exposed to high concentrations of hazardous substances, especially in heavy traffic and traffic jams. The air exchange rate is an important factor in assessment of the level of pollutant substances exposure on the people inside the vehicle.
AIMS: Development of the air exchange rate measuring method, based on carbon dioxide concentration build-up in the vehicle cabin air.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The presented method makes possible to determine the air exchange rate in a stationary vehicle or vehicle, moving with constant velocity. The set of experiments was carried out, in which the air exchange rate was determined in a stationary vehicle and in a moving vehicle at velocities of 30, 60 and 90 km/h. For each velocity, the air exchange rate was determined for three air conditioning system modes, such as intake air supply, recirculation mode and air conditioning system off.
RESULTS: According to the results of measurements, the air exchange rate varied from 0.42 h-1 to 76.17 h-1.
CONCLUSIONS: The study results corresponds to the results, obtained earlier by other authors, using alternative methods, and may be used for development of regulatory requirements to control the pollutant substances exposure on the people inside vehicle cabins and for the people healthcare strategy formation.