Many motorists do not know their vehicles come equipped with cabin air filters that prevent pollutants such as pollen, dirt, dust and soot from entering the car through the heating and air conditioning vents.

But over time, cabin air filters can get clogged and actually multiply the dangers from air pollutants when the heating and air conditioning system blows them inside the car with no way for them to escape.

"Checking and replacing a vehicle's cabin air filter every 12,000 to 18,000 miles keeps environmental contaminants from entering the interior of the vehicle and aggravating seasonal allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions," says Ramon Nunez, Director of Filtration for Bosch, joint venture owner of Purolator Filters NA LLC. http://www.pureoil.com.

The cabin air filter may also be called pollen filter, air-conditioning filter, passenger compartment air filter, interior ventilation filter or dust filter.

Two kinds of cabin filters are available for modern vehicles – the particulate cabin filter and the activated charcoal cabin filter.

The particulate cabin filter features a multi-layer design with more pleats that provide more space to filter out pollutants. Other features include foam perimeter gaskets and an injection-molded frame when specified by the vehicle manufacturer.

The activated charcoal cabin filter goes a step further. It absorbs nearly all toxic and foul-smelling gases such as ozone, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbons. An additional cover layer makes for extra protection.

Often, both particulate type and activated charcoal type cabin filters are available for the same vehicle, and you can replace a used cabin filter with either type, regardless of which was installed by the vehicle's manufacturer.

Recent estimates indicate approximately 45 million vehicles in the US are equipped with cabin air filters. Refer to your owner's manual or check with a mechanic to see if your vehicle has one.

Whether you have it replaced professionally or decide to tackle it yourself, it's important to know that the time it takes to install a cabin air filter varies with the make and model of the vehicle you drive.

"It can take anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on where it is located and how difficult it is for you or the technician to reach," Nunez said. The cabin air filter may be located, for example, in the outside air intake, under the dash or even behind the glove box.

Inventor of the first automotive oil filter in 1923, Purolator offers premium quality cabin air filters for most domestic and imported vehicles. According to Nunez, Purolator's BreatheEASY(R) cabin air filter is designed to clean and protect the air in the vehicle and reduce the accumulation of dust inside the car.

Currently, each box of Purolator's BreatheEASY cabin air filter includes step-by-step instructions on the entire installation process as well as estimated difficulty and replacement times.