VEHICLE AIR HANDLING SYSTEM

A vehicle air handling system includes an air duct housing, a particulate sensor, a first air blower and an electronic controller. The air duct housing has an air inlet and a passenger compartment vent. The particulate sensor is configured to detect a particulate level of particulates in the air duct housing. The first air blower is disposed in the air duct housing to move air within the air duct housing. The electronic controller is operatively coupled to the particulate sensor and the first air blower. The electronic controller is configured to operate the first air blower to reverse an air direction of the first air blower away from the passenger compartment vent upon detection of the particulate level of the particulates in the air duct housing being equal to or greater than a predetermined particulate threshold level in the air duct housing.