Toxic New Car Smell (interior)

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-car-smell-is-toxic-study-says-which-cars-are-worst/

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But according to a new study from the nonprofit Ecology Center and HealthyStuff.org, what you might actually be sniffing are toxic fumes from chemicals used to create the car interior.

"Research shows that vehicle interiors contain a unique cocktail of hundreds of toxic chemicals that off-gas in small, confined spaces," Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, said in a written statement. "Since these chemicals are not regulated, consumers have no way of knowing the dangers they face. Our testing is intended to expose those dangers and encourage manufacturers to use safer alternatives."

 

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According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, continued exposure to some of these can lead to hormonal disruption, reproductive impacts and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system — or even cancer. It’s that long-term exposure that experts find most worrisome.

“People spend over an hour a day in their vehicles on average,” said Gearhart. “Whether it’s adults, children, or pets, we’re concerned about prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals inside the vehicle.”


http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160315-is-new-car-smell-bad-for-your-health

 

Car manufacturers are required by law to use toxic flame retardants in car interiors

http://pureti.com/content/documents/Ecology-Center-ReportToxic-At-Any-Speed.pdf

 

"PBDEs, a class of chemicals used primarily as flame retardants in furniture and plastics, are structurally similar to the known human toxicants PBBs, PCBs, dioxins, and furans, all of which have been banned under the Stockholm Convention."

http://greensciencepolicy.org/topics/flame-retardants/

 

Banned but still in use...