Can your new car cause you cancer? What American Malayalees should know.

Jojy Cheriyan MD;MPH- July 25,2013

Buying a new car is a dream and showing it off is a source of pride for every American Malayalee . Some even allow their friends to sit inside and get some 'noxious' smell of the interior to convince him or her. For some, it is the 'reason' to visit church or temple or social gatherings more often than before. So it is important to know the health hazards involved in this and some preventive measures to reduce the hazards to yourselves and your children, especially little ones, who breathes in more air than adults.

The results of recent studies have shown that the amounts of toxic chemicals in new car interiors are significantly high which include synthetic blends of respiratory irritants and potential carcinogens, released from the vinyl(plastic), glues, leather, textiles, seat cushions, sealants and other materials found inside the car.

The report recently published by the UL laboratories's affiliate Green Guard (government recognized non-profit agency for testing air quality) shows that testing new car interiors has revealed the presence of volatile organic compounds, (including formaldehyde, toluene, and benzene) polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which are used as flame retardants, and phthalic acid esters (phthalates).

These chemicals are known to exacerbate respiratory illnesses, produce nose and throat irritation, cause headaches, and even irritate the skin. Exposure may even increase the risk of cancer, endocrine system disruption, neurological problems and heart diseases.

(You can see the report here-Indoor Air Quality Hazards of New Cars)

According to the report published in February 2012 by the Ecology Center's Testing and Reporting -The best cars of 2011-12 in terms of low levels of hazardous chemicals, include the Hyundai, Volvo, BMW, Honda Civic, Honda CR-Z, Acura RDX/ZDX, Audi S5, and the Smart Coupe.

(I have attached the full list of car rankings and it is worth reviewing.)

But, based on these results and from a public health point of view, all cars have high toxic levels and the safe vehicles are bicycles and the Amish horse powered buggy which is still used in some areas of United States. I know, this will sound nonsense to you, but in terms of health hazards it is the right alternative.

Worse during summer:

During summer as heat goes up, our cars are baked, and these chemicals are released more (since most of them are volatile gases), hence the concentration of all toxic chemicals will be high in the interior of the car. So it is always wise to ventilate any car (old or new) that has been sitting in the summer-heat.

Some experts advice to leave the car-window a little open. But that is not a solution when you drive on a 4 or 6 lane highways. It not only causes noise pollution but also allows the worst out-door toxins get into your car. So leaving the window a little open can cause more harm than good. The air in High-ways contain fine and ultrafine toxic particles released from products of combustion from running vehicles, dust from road construction, vehicular tire wear and road surface itself.

Ultrafine particulates can penetrate deep into our bodies via the lungs, create inflammation, and promote heart disease. Their emission has been estimated to result in 80,000 to 100,000 deaths per year in the United States and over 4 million deaths across the world, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency).

Possible solutions to prevent the hazards are limited and certainly need some sacrifice:

1. Purchase a car that scores well in terms of the safety of its materials. Several states have started proposing and implementing new guidelines.

2.Ventilate the car well in the morning. This will help to let out the toxic gases accumulated inside the car during night (especially summer nights).

3. Close the windows and run the AC with recirculated/filtered air while on the 4-6 lane highway, thereby decreasing particulates and combustion products inhaled from outdoors (most cars with AC have the option of 'recirculation' available).

4. When you park, leave the car windows a little open all day as the car bakes in increasingly hot weather.

Protect your health and your family's health. Consider the new car smell when you purchase your next vehicle.

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