Randomized Cross-Over Study of In-Vehicle Cabin Air Filtration, Air Pollution Exposure, and Acute Changes to Heart Rate Variability, Saliva Cortisol, and Cognitive Function

[Image: see text] To determine how traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) exposures affect commuter health, and whether cabin air filtration (CAF) can mitigate exposures, we conducted a cross-over study of 48 adults exposed to TRAP during two commutes with and without CAF. Measurements included particulate air pollutants (PM(2.5), black carbon [BC], ultrafine particles [UFPs]), volatile organic compounds, and nitrogen dioxide. We measured participants’ heart rate variability (HRV), saliva cortisol, and cognitive function. On average, CAF reduced concentrations of UFPs by 26,232 (95%CI: 11,734, 40,730) n/cm(3), PM(2.5) by 6 (95%CI: 5, 8) μg/m(3), and BC by 1348 (95%CI: 1042, 1654) ng/m(3), or 28, 30, and 32%, respectively. Each IQR increase in PM(2.5) was associated with a 28% (95%CI: 2, 60) increase in high-frequency power HRV at the end of the commute and a 22% (95%CI: 7, 39) increase 45 min afterward. IQR increases in UFPs were associated with increased saliva cortisol in women during the commute (18% [95%CI: 0, 40]). IQR increases in UFPs were associated with strong switching costs (19% [95%CI: 2, 39]), indicating a reduced capacity for multitasking, and PM(2.5) was associated with increased reaction latency, indicating slower responses (5% [95%CI: 1, 10]). CAF can reduce particulate exposures by almost a third.