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
1600 cities. As per a recent survey, New Delhi ranked first at 21pc 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 in the Capital 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 unique
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 70pc 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 air bags. 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.
Source: Volvo Cars