Exposure to Particulate and Gaseous Pollutants Inside Vehicles Parked in Intense Heat

MINSEOK KIM, June Young Park, Insung Kang, The University of Texas at Arlington

     Abstract Number: 538
     Working Group: Aerosol Exposure

Abstract
Climate change is an urgent global threat, leading to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather, including heat waves, which can make vehicle interiors dangerously hot. Elevated temperature and solar radiation can lead to the emission of harmful air pollutants such as VOCs and PM from interior materials, which can cause numerous adverse health effects. Therefore, this study investigates the emission rates of these pollutants in vehicles parked under such intense heat conditions. To measure the indoor environment of different types of vehicles, we will select an outdoor parking lot at the University of Texas at Arlington, which is directly exposed to solar radiation. Time-series indoor concentrations of VOCs, PM, ozone, and other environmental factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, solar radiation) will be measured in approximately 20 vehicles of different years, brands, and sizes. We will use the mass balance equation to calculate the emission rates inside each vehicle during peak temperature hours. The baseline measurement will be preceded by open windows and A/C system operation for 30 minutes to standardize the experimental conditions and establish baseline steady-state air pollution and temperature levels. We hypothesize that vehicular conditions exposed to intense heat would stimulate an acceleration in the emission rate of VOCs and PM, as well as the formation of ozone potentially through photochemical processes. Our findings can contribute to underscoring the significance of public awareness in addressing health risks associated with in-vehicle air pollution during the summer months. Furthermore, future research will investigate the decay of emission rates for air pollutants by applying mitigation strategies, including opening windows, operating A/C systems, parking in shaded areas, and using sunshades under intense heat conditions during summer.