Ambient air pollution is a worldwide problem, on a scale such that air pollution is now a leading cause of human morbidity and mortality. Pollution is not limited to the outdoor environment, but infiltrates inside impacting the air where people live and work. This problem provides the starting point for the research presented herein:​ to assess knowledge gaps, investigate existing technology, and develop a novel air pollution control technology to reduce gaseous pollutant concentrations. One gaseous pollutant, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), is selected as a focal point. To establish its merit, this research examined NOₓ’s influence on sustainability and human health. Findings establish NOₓ as an encompassing indicator for global sustainability and a metric for gauging progress towards decarbonization. Additionally, a review of health literature indicated an astounding number and variety of negative health impacts resulting from ambient NOₓ exposure, with risks of mental health effects exceeding physical impacts. The identification of environmental and human health implications of ambient NOₓ clearly establishes a need to reduce ambient levels worldwide.

Due to the de-localized nature of NOₓ sources, primarily traffic, outdoor mitigation of NOₓ emissions is not feasible, and attention is then shifted to indoor removal strategies. Indoor air quality can be improved through numerous avenues, but no current methods or technologies are capable of removing ambient NOₓ in a safe, sustainable fashion. Photocatalytic removal is potentially effective in removing NOₓ, and a patented photocatalyst offers solutions to the barriers that have prevented effective NOₓ removal with existing technologies. A design process was undertaken to develop a Gaseous Pollution Control Device (GPCD) prototype that was rigorously tested in the lab and showed 60-85% removal of nitric oxide (NO) and 50-100% removal of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The GPCD was then industrially manufactured, and the commercial prototype was validated in pilot tests that confirmed the efficacy of the GPCD in removing ambient NOₓ, and other VOC pollutants. Implementing the GPCD for indoor ambient air purification will safely and effectively reduce ambient NOₓ and VOC concentrations and enhance health for individuals in the local environment.