Volvo Cars drives awareness on the ills of air pollution

It has been established that one quarter of the global population is frequently breathing unhealthy air. In May this year, the WHO assessed Delhi to have the most polluted air amongst 1,600 cities. As per a recent survey, New Delhi ranked first at 21% in the list of most polluted cities in India as far as air pollution is concerned. Delhi’s air quality continues to deteriorate, with particulate matter (PM) levels crossing 700 micrograms per cubic metre nearly 12 times the permissible limit.

In its ongoing efforts to create awareness on creating sustainable eco system, Volvo Cars organised a panel discussion earlier this month to deliberate on the ills of air pollution and make recommendations for sustainable solutions to it. The panel discussion was led by Andreas Andersson, Attribute Leader Environmental Impact, Volvo cars along with Dr. Radha Goyal, Head, Research and Development Division, Indian Pollution Control Association and Dr. Gita Gangadharan, ENT surgeon, Max Super Specialty Hospital.

CleanZone is Volvo’s approach to controlling interior air quality and providing a better driving environment through innovative solutions for enhanced wellbeing and health. Drivers can breathe easier because most microscopic, hazardous “fine dust” particles will now be prevented from entering the car.

In cars equipped with the new improved multi-filter, the amount of ‘fine dust’ particles smaller than 0,4 μm can be as much as 70% less than in a car without the filter, according to a standardised component test. This is a significant improvement as studies have shown that dust particles smaller than 10 µm can cause a number of health problems, including difficulty breathing and lung infections. This multi-filter has first been introduced in the all-new XC 90. It features a larger design that intercepts more particulates and pollen, as well as a layer of active charcoal that effectively removes a host of contaminants that can impact the health of drivers.

Tom Von Bonsdroff, managing director, Volvo Auto India, says, “Up to 45 per cent of the industrialised world’s population is now suffering from some form of allergy or hypersensitivity. Over ten per cent has asthma. At Volvo, our commitment to safety goes well beyond safety belts and airbags. It’s about making sure that every minute you and your family spend in a Volvo is as safe as it can possibly be. That includes breathing”

Dr. Radha Goyal, Head, Research and Development Division, Indian Pollution Control Association said, “The significant sources of air pollution in Delhi NCR are seems to be vehicular exhausts, construction activities, resuspension of dust and biomass burning.  Delhi is also known as India's Asthma capital. As per an estimate, 80 million deaths per year in Delhi are due to air pollution. The specific mitigation measures that can be used are 'water spraying' on roads and footpaths particularly in vulnerable areas to dust, artificial grass on public footpaths to avoid resuspension of dust, strict follow of regulations at traffic interactions and heavy traffic roads, thick green belt at the periphery of the city and other vulnerable places and encouraging people to use more and more public transport systems.”

Dr. Gita Gangadharan, ENT surgeon, Max Super Specialty Hospital said, “Pollutants damage health is a very well known fact. Air pollutants directly invade the respiratory system, due to easy accessibility, causing myriad symptoms in the nose, throat, larynx and lungs. Further, the lung is a primary point of entry into the body for a number of toxic agents that affect other organ systems. Early assessment is important because removal of the patient from harmful exposure is often the only intervention that might prevent further deterioration or lead to improvement in a patient’s condition.”

Andreas Andersson, Attribute Leader Environmental Impact, Volvo Cars, said, “All around the world consumers are becoming increasingly aware of how air quality can impact health, and are now demanding cleaner air inside their vehicles. With this increasing awareness, Volvo Cars has also implemented rigorous test programmes to monitor and control emissions. With its focus on health and well-being, CleanZone represents the spirit of Volvo Cars’ human-centric approach to its work”

The filter is one element of Volvo’s state-of-the-art Interior Air Quality System (IAQS). Another element is a sensor that monitors the incoming air for noxious substances. If the level of harmful substances becomes too high (such as when driving through a tunnel), the car’s air intakes will automatically close. Together, the multi-filter and sensor keep out a number of harmful and irritating pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, ground-level ozon, gases and unpleasant odours.

While unlocking the car by remote control, the remote cabin ventilation system automatically vents out the interior air within one minute, getting rid of odours and emissions before drivers enter. The work to minimize interior emissions begins long before the cars are even built, with strict controls on the substances that may be used inside the cars.