Car cabin filters and in-car air
A better cabin filter and the recirculation button do most of the work. In-car purifiers rarely add much.
Delhi traffic puts you right in the exhaust stream. A car with windows closed, a good cabin filter and recirculation turned on can cut fine-particle levels inside substantially.
Cabin filter
- Replace before the pollution season (around September–October) and follow the service schedule. Many owners never change it.
- Upgrade if available for your model: look for a filter described as PM2.5, high-efficiency, or with a stated fine-particle efficiency. Activated carbon layers also reduce odours and some gases.
- Make sure it fits snugly in the housing. Gaps let air bypass it.
How to drive
- Recirculation on in traffic and polluted stretches. Fresh air brings outside air in through the filter. Recirculation re-filters cabin air.
- On long drives, switch to fresh air briefly every 20–30 minutes so CO₂ doesn’t build up and cause drowsiness.
- Windows up.
- Don’t idle at the school gate or in parking lots.
In-car purifiers
Small plug-in “car purifiers” usually move very little air. Check the CADR if one is listed. A good cabin filter on recirculation generally does more. Avoid ionisers and ozone car fresheners.
Two-wheelers and autos
There’s no cabin to protect you. A well-fitted respirator matters most, and so does choosing quieter routes and times. See masks.