You Are What You Drive
Not only is the air inside your home a potential health hazard, the air inside your car may be more polluted than you think. Another term for that “new car smell” is off-gassing, chemicals to be precise.
A recent study by the Ecology Center has yielded the first-ever guide to toxic chemicals in cars. Among the substances that may be hitching a ride on your commute: chlorine, bromine, arsenic and lead.
In their press release, Chemicals Released from Indoor Auto Parts Contribute to “New Car Smell” and Serious Health Concerns for Drivers & Passengers, the Ecology Center says:
Over 200 of the most popular 2006- and 2007-model vehicles in the U.S. were tested for chemicals that off-gas from indoor auto parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests and seats. These chemicals become part of the air we breathe contributing to “new car smell” and a variety of acute and long-term health concerns. Since the average American spends more than 1.5 hours in a car every day, toxic chemical exposure inside vehicles is a major source of potential indoor air pollution.
To help consumers clear the air they drive in, the Ecology Center has ranked cars according to their indoor air quality. Full reports on toxic chemicals in cars are available at HealthyCar.org but here’s a snippet (via ecocenter.org) of the top ten best and worst:
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