Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: Andrewphilip on 06/11/2021 14:38:30

Title: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Andrewphilip on 06/11/2021 14:38:30
You may notice one thing when you are in the car, you find the atmosphere is not comfortable. So why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Kryptid on 06/11/2021 15:13:01
It rarely seems that way to me.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Origin on 06/11/2021 16:11:12
You may notice one thing when you are in the car, you find the atmosphere is not comfortable.
I have not had that experience.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: evan_au on 06/11/2021 20:16:23
Quote from: OP
Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
There is a 4km motorway tunnel near here, and the authorities recommend that you wind up the windows, and put the airconditioning on "recirculate" before you enter the tunnel.
They obviously think that the air in your car will be better than the air in the tunnel.

I talked to someone who worked on the air circulation for this tunnel - apparently, they are bound by environmental rules about the number of particulates in the air near the tunnel "smokestack". So when there is bad air in my city, they are not allowed to pump any tunnel air into the outside air, so they suck it from one side of the tunnel, and pump it back into the other side (going round and round!).

So air quality a relative thing...

Air quality seems to be better in leafy suburbs - maybe put a pot-plant in your car?
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Zer0 on 06/11/2021 20:23:32
Maybe because Cars are driven on roads & highways which are mostly polluted places.

Driving atop a scenic hilltop might change the quality considerably.
(Carrying oxygenated tanks within is highly non recommendable)

Ps - Before potting a Pot plant inside your Car, Please check Marijuana Laws in your Country.
😎
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: alancalverd on 06/11/2021 22:11:51
A car "fresh air" ventilation system, even without recirculating aircon, should have a "pollen filter" that removes most of the dust from the incoming air, so what comes into the car is always cleaner than the ambient.

However the volatile contents of the car include smoke, human feces, urine, sweat, vomit, farts, halitosis, man-repellent, various child residues, old fish and chip grease, stale coffee, and whatever noxious vapors your wet dog exudes, or just the glues and plasticisers of a brand new vehicle. Most people find the cocktail less pleasant than new-mown hay, but more tolerable than diesel exhaust.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Colin2B on 06/11/2021 22:58:17
You may notice one thing when you are in the car, you find the atmosphere is not comfortable.
I have not had that experience.
Me neither. Then I don’t keep in our car all the things Alan apparently keeps in his  🤢
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 06/11/2021 23:19:07
One reason is that car exhausts and Air intakes are at low level, also a reason why children are afflicted greater than adults.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Origin on 06/11/2021 23:38:21
One reason is that car exhausts and Air intakes are at low level, also a reason why children are afflicted greater than adults.
You shouldn't make things up just to join the conversation.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: vhfpmr on 07/11/2021 00:03:30
Numerous experiments have shown that cyclists riding in rush hour traffic are breathing cleaner air that the occupants of cars. The explanation offered is usually that the air intakes on the cars are closer to exhaust level than the cyclists face.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969701007586
https://can.org.nz/system/files/Research-0402-Emissions.pdf
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: alancalverd on 07/11/2021 18:20:26
You may notice one thing when you are in the car, you find the atmosphere is not comfortable.
I have not had that experience.
Me neither. Then I don’t keep in our car all the things Alan apparently keeps in his  🤢
....says Billy-no-mates the dog-hating silicon-based life form from Rigel 7. Welcome to our somewhat organic  planet, where mammals convert plant material to waste products that they exude from various orifices and surfaces. It's quite good fun, really (apart from the pungent volatiles that females apply to themselves), and we keep doing it, even in cars.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 07/11/2021 20:29:54
One reason is that car exhausts and Air intakes are at low level, also a reason why children are afflicted greater than adults.
You shouldn't make things up just to join the conversation.
Where have the earlier rebukes gone? Censorship here on TNS? It doesn't change the fact that the above is trolling.

Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Colin2B on 07/11/2021 23:37:21
the dog-hating silicon-based life form from Rigel 7.
Putting aside why they hate dogs, there is an interesting question as to whether they would be able to smell us, if so would some smells which are bad to us be heavenly to them?
How would they smell to us? The silicon spatulas and baking accessories we have don’t seem to have any smell. Maybe we need silicon based bacteria.

.....apart from the pungent volatiles that females apply to themselves........
Not just females, there appears to be a trend among males to spray themselves liberally with a choking mixture. I can sometimes be walking 10m behind someone and still smell the deodorant they have overused.
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Zer0 on 08/11/2021 19:20:29
One reason is that car exhausts and Air intakes are at low level, also a reason why children are afflicted greater than adults.
You shouldn't make things up just to join the conversation.
Where have the earlier rebukes gone? Censorship here on TNS? It doesn't change the fact that the above is trolling.

If Censorship was applicable on the TNS Forum, You would have Never Ever been able to have that Signature Line of yours Intact & Unchallenged & Unchanged.

All of Us here do have a Right to express our own Opinions.
(Your Signature Line does the vulgar job spot on with Each & Every post of Yours)

Ps - I've noticed/observed you calling out Other OPs as nonsense & garbage.
When you have a tendency to look up to the sky & spit, then you should also be prepared for the consequences of it!
✌️
Title: Re: Why is the air inside a car worse than outside?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 09/11/2021 04:19:58
One reason is that car exhausts and Air intakes are at low level, also a reason why children are afflicted greater than adults.
You shouldn't make things up just to join the conversation.
Where have the earlier rebukes gone? Censorship here on TNS? It doesn't change the fact that the above is trolling.

If Censorship was applicable on the TNS Forum, You would have Never Ever been able to have that Signature Line of yours Intact & Unchallenged & Unchanged.

All of Us here do have a Right to express our own Opinions.
(Your Signature Line does the vulgar job spot on with Each & Every post of Yours)

Ps - I've noticed/observed you calling out Other OPs as nonsense & garbage.
When you have a tendency to look up to the sky & spit, then you should also be prepared for the consequences of it!
✌️
OK, Mr poopy pants.