The New-Car Smell - Is It Toxic?
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November 10, 2008
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)If there's a person on the planet who doesn't love the smell of a new car, I've yet to meet them. In fact, the InsWeb blog has already explored this topic at some length. But a new study finds that the new-car small we've all come to adore might be hazardous to our health.
According to the Ecology Center, an environmental advocacy group based in Michigan, the new-car smell might be toxic. The group rated over 200 vehicles sold in the U.S., and found that the fumes in new vehicles may cause "allergic or other acute reactions or even long-term health impacts such as birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer." The report was posted on HealthyCar.org.
New car smell comes from chemicals sprayed on plastics and foam in steering wheels, seats and dashboards. Car seats for children are also a culprit of toxic gaseous fumes. As new vehicles carry an average of 250 pounds of plastic, they have been cited as a major source of in-car air pollution and a serious health danger.
The new-car smell is so popular that imitation new-car smell air fresheners are available on the market. But these products contain artificial leather odor and the harmful chemical compounds aldehydes, esters and ketones, and might be more toxic than the real smell.
The average American spends an hour and a half in the car each day. Sucking in toxic fumes for that amount of time can't be healthy. However, asking someone to give up the new-car smell is asking a lot.
In the end you have to ask yourself: Is the new-car smell worth a little bit of cancer-causing fumes? Maybe so...
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I don't know about anybody else- but the new car smell is one of my most loathed scents. The smell gives me an instant headache and after reading this article- no wonder! Good to know!