New Car Smell Threatens Health
A recent Study by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) found that the new car smell is an unhealthy "toxic cocktail," that could lead to long term health problems.
Dr. Steve Brown, head of CSIRO's Air Quality Control research says in a CSIRO press release:
"Just as air inside our homes and workplaces is often much more polluted than the air outside, so sitting in a new car can expose you to levels of toxic emissions many times beyond goals established by Australia's National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)".
The new car smell, highly sought after by some, and dreaded by the chemically sensitive, can be attributed to VOC's (volatile organic compounds.)
A press release from CSIRO listed the following air toxics found in "high levels" in new cars:
- Benzene - a known human carcinogen linked to bone marrow failure diseases such as: aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and acute myelogenous leukemia,
- Acetone - a mucosal irritant
- Cyclohexanone - a possible human carcinogen
- Ethylbenzene - a systemic toxic agent
- MIBK - a systemic toxic agent
- n-Hexane - a neurotoxic agent
- Styrene - a probable human carcinogen
- Toluene - a central nervous system dysfunction agent
- Xylene isomers - a fetal development toxic agent
Brown continues:
"To avoid some exposure to this toxic cocktail, people who buy new cars should make sure there is plenty of outside air entering the vehicle while they drive, for at least six months after the vehicle has been purchased, although this may not be possible in heavy traffic due to air toxics from car exhausts. Ultimately, what we need are cars with interior materials that produce low emissions".
This study points out that new car interior VOC levels are significantly reduced after the first six months, and that some manufacturers are already taking measures to reduce toxic materials used in car interiors.
