High Levels of Toxic Chemicals Found in Car Interiors, New Study Says

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High Levels of Toxic Chemicals Found in Car Interiors, New Study Says

_http://www.ecocenter.org/press/releases/20060111.php_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/press/releases/20060111.php)

 

Sun's Heat and UV Light Exacerbate Toxicity Inside Vehicles, Putting

Drivers and Passengers at Risk

 

Volvo Found to be Least Toxic Car Demonstrating Feasibility of Safe

Alternatives; Other Companies Urged to Follow Suit

 

 

(Detroit, MI) -- A first-of-its-kind study released today by the Ecology

Center revealed new information about toxic chemical exposure in automobile

interiors. PBDEs, used as fire retardants, and phthalates, used primarily

to soften PVC plastics (and partly responsible for " new car smell " ), were

found in dangerous amounts in dust and windshield film samples. Drivers and

passengers are exposed through inhalation and contact with dust. These groups

of chemicals have been linked to birth defects, impaired learning, liver

toxicity, premature births and early puberty in laboratory animals, among

other serious health problems.

 

The study - Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe

Alternatives - found that chemicals used to make seat cushions, armrests, floor

coverings, wire insulation and other interior auto components are more

rapidly released into the air in extreme temperatures. Since automobiles have

360-degree windows surrounding the interior, cars can heat up to 190 degrees

F. In addition, UV exposure from parking in the sun creates a favorable

environment for chemical breakdown, causing PBDE flame retardants to become

even more dangerous. Solar exposure in cars can be 5 times higher than in

homes or offices, according to the study.

" We can no longer rely just on seatbelts and airbags to keep us safe in

cars, " said Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center's Clean Car Campaign Director

who co-authored the report. " Our research shows that autos are chemical

reactors, releasing toxins before we even turn on the ignition. There are safer

alternatives to these chemicals, and innovative companies that develop them

first will likely be rewarded by consumers. "

The Ecology Center collected windshield film and dust samples from 2000 to

2005 model cars made by 11 leading auto manufacturers. Volvo was found to

have the lowest levels of phthalates and the second lowest levels of PBDEs,

making it the industry leader in terms of indoor air quality. Volvo also

has the toughest policies for phasing out these chemicals. Other

manufacturers claim they have eliminated PBDEs and phthalates from particular

applications. For example, Ford reports that it has eliminated PBDEs from

" interior

components that customers may come into contact with. " Honda also reports

that it has eliminated most of its phthalate-containing PVC in its vehicles.

Other manufacturers tested include BMW, Chrysler, GM, Hyundai, Mercedes,

Subaru, Toyota and Volkswagen.

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/CompanyRanking.pdf)

Both PBDEs and phthalates are considered chemicals of concern due to their

toxicity and ubiquity in the environment. Levels of PBDEs found in the

breast milk of American women and some fetuses are approaching levels shown to

impair learning and cause behavioral problems in lab mice. These chemicals

have also been linked to thyroid hormone disruption and liver toxicity in

animals. One type of phthalate found in a large variety of polyvinyl

chloride (PVC) products, called DEHP, has been linked to premature birth,

reproductive defects and early onset puberty in lab animals.

The study found that concentrations of PBDEs in dust and windshield film

samples were up to five times higher than those found in homes and offices

in previous studies. Since the average American spends more than 1.5 hours

in their car every day breathing in these chemicals, the inside of a car is

a significant source of indoor air pollution. According to the EPA, indoor

air pollution is currently one of the top five environmental risks to public

health.

In Europe and Japan, momentum is beginning to move away from toxic

chemicals such as PBDEs and phthalates toward safer alternatives. The European

Union, for example, passed legislation in 2003 requiring the phase-out of

PBDEs in electronic and electrical equipment. As a result, electronics

manufacturers such as Apple, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Panasonic and Sony have

already eliminated PBDEs from their products. The European Union has also

required phase-outs of phthalates in toys, childcare items, and cosmetics,

resulting in similar elimination efforts in those industries.

In Japan, the Japanese Auto Manufacturers Association (JAMA) recently made

headway toward improving air quality in cars when they announced a

voluntary agreement of its members to reduce air concentrations of a number of

volatile organic chemicals, including phthalates. These chemicals, also known

as VOCs, are responsible for what is typically called " new car smell. "

Several Japanese automakers have indicated efforts to reduce the use of these

chemicals as a result of the initiative.

" Most people think about cars causing outdoor air pollution, such as

smog, " said Gearhart. " Now we know that breathing the air and dust inside of

cars may be even more dangerous. "

In lieu of legislative action at the federal level, at least 9 U.S. states

(California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Oregon

and Washington) have passed laws banning the two worst forms of PBDEs,

namely penta and octa. Additional legislation is being considered in at least 6

other states, as well as revisions of existing legislation to extend PBDE

phase-outs to all uses of deca form, including automotive.

The new report makes the following recommendations:

* For Manufacturers: Manufacturers should reduce the health risk to

vehicle occupants by phasing out PBDEs and phthalates in auto interior

parts, setting specific timelines for its material and component suppliers. As

an interim step, North American automakers should voluntarily comply with

recent Japanese and European initiatives that limit hazardous air pollutant

levels in auto interiors.

* For Government: Congress and individual states should encourage

rapid action to phase-out the use of PBDEs and phthalates by requiring

phase-out timelines and providing research and technical assistance to vehicle

manufacturers for assessment and development of alternatives. Government

purchasers should further require disclosure on the use of these substances in

their purchasing specifications. Voluntary efforts should also be given

public recognition.

* For Vehicle Occupants: Fortunately, car owners can take some

direct actions to minimize health risks from PBDEs and phthalates in car

interiors. Some of these actions will also reduce the risks associated with

other

interior car pollutants. Drivers can reduce the rate of release and

break-down of these chemicals by using solar reflectors, ventilating car

interiors, and parking outside of sunlight whenever possible.

 

# # #

Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars and the Need for Safe Alternatives

REPORT

_http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/ToxicAtAnySpeed.pdf_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/ToxicAtAnySpeed.pdf)

High Levels of Toxic Chemicals Found in Car Interiors,

New Study Says - Press Release

_http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/releasefinal.pdf_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/releasefinal.pdf)

Links to Related News Stories

* CNN – _'New car smell' includes toxins_

(http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/01/31/toxic_cars/)

* Detroit News – _Study finds toxic threat in auto interiors_

(http://www.imakenews.com/pureaircontrols/e_article000524221.cfm?x=b11,0,w)

* NBC5, Chicago – _Study critiques air quality while driving_

(http://www.nbc5.com/news/6008411/detail.html)

* KHOU, Texas – _Automotive pollution inside your car_

(http://www.khou.com/sharedcontent/registration/index.jsp?fw=http://www.khou.com\

/news/loca

l/stories/khou060111_gj_toxiccars.6a0d05e8.html)

* E Magazine – _New Car Smell: It's Not So Sweet_

(http://www.emagazine.com/view/?3062)

* Volvo Press Release – _Volvo models best in interior air quality_

(http://www.volvocars.com/corporation/NewsEvents/News/news.htm?item={3AC2652A

-5247-47A0-8511-87170E81D933})

* Automotive News – _Group warns of bad 'indoor' vehicle air_

(http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060111/REG/60111023 & Search\

ID=

73232464576569)

* Detroit Free Press – _Your car may be making you sick_

(http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060112/NEWS06/601120488/1008/\

NEWS)

* The Register, UK – _Flame retardants enter Arctic food chain_

(http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/12/arctic_pollution/)

* Ann Arbor News – _Study: Car dust may pose risk to health_

(http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-16/113708040331680.xml & co\

ll=2)

 

* Consumer Affairs – _Group Warns of Polluted Air Inside Cars_

(http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/car_chemicals.html)

Legislative Information

* _European Parliament to take the European Commission to the

European Court of Justice over Deca-BDE, January 10, 2006_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/prjanuary10Deca.pdf)

* _Denmark to Sue EU over Flame Retardant Linked to Birth Defects_

(http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2006/2006-01-04-01.asp)

* _U.S. Legislation Factsheet_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/facts_leg.pdf)

 

Related Reports – Phthalates

* _PVC – Bad News Comes in Threes: The Poison Plastic, Health

Hazards, and the Looming Waste Crisis_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/documents/PVCDisposalReport_2-Column_R6.pdf) - Be

Safe

* _An Estimation of the Daily Intake of DEHP and Other Phthalates in

the General Population_ (http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/holger_study.pdf) –

International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health

* _Expert Panel Update on the Reproductive and Developmental

Toxicity of DEHP Phthalate_

(http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/dehp/DEHP__Report_final.pdf) – Center

for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction

* _Aggregate Exposures to Phthalates in Humans_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/Phthalate_hcwh.pdf) – Health Care Without

Harm

Related Reports – PBDEs

* _Sick of Dust – Chemicals in Common Products, A Needless Health

Risk in Our Homes_ (http://www.ecocenter.org/documents/Dust%20Report.pdf) –

Safer Products Project

* _Body of Evidence II: Latest Science on the Dangers of Deca-BDE in

Consumer Products_ (http://illinoispirg.org/IL.asp?id2=19439) – Illinois

PIRG

* _Brominated Flame Retardants: Rising Levels of Concern._

(http://www.noharm.org/details.cfm?ID=1095 & type=document) Health Care Without

Harm

Deca Alternatives

* _Decabromodiphenylether: An Investigation of Non-Halogen

Substitutes in Electronic Enclosure and Textile Applications._

(http://www.sustainableproduction.org/proj.clea.publ.shtml) Prepared by Pure

Strategies for the

Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. April, 2005

* _Survey and Technical Assessment of Alternatives to Deca-BDE in

Plastics_ (http://www.kemi.se/upload/Trycksaker/Pdf/PM/PM5_04.pdf) – Swedish

Chemicals Inspectorate

* _Washington State's PBDE Chemical Action Plan and Alternatives

Assessment_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/documents/WA%20PBDE%20Chem%20Action%20Plan%202006.pdf)

Other Toxins Inside Vehicles

* _Don't Breath and Drive? Pollutants Lurk Inside Vehicles_

(http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2001/109-9/toc.html) – Environmental Health

Perspectives

* _Volatile Organic Compounds Inside Car Interiors_

(http://www.csiro.aumediaRelease/mr2001/newcars.htm) – CSIRO

* _Indentification of Volatile Organic Compounds in a New

Automobile_ (http://www.sisweb.com/referenc/applnote/app-36-a.htm) –

Scientific

Instrument Service

 

Auto Company Chemicals Policies

* _Chemical House_

(http://dgcommunications.com/safer-products/page.php?p=hous & s=auto) - Ranks

automakers' chemical policies

* _Global Automotive Declarable Substance List_

(http://www.gadsl.org/)

* _Volvo Black List (Chemicals that are banned)_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/VolvoBlack2005.pdf)

* _Volvo Grey List (Chemicals that are limited)_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/VolvoGrey2005.pdf)

* _Volvo White List (Substitutes for Hazardous Chemicals)_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/VolvoWhite2005.pdf)

* _GM Restricted and Reportable Substances_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/gm_standard.pdf)

Corporate Commitments to Phase-Out PVC and PBDEs

* _Honda Letter_ (http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/honda_letter.pdf) –

PVC

* _Microsoft Letter_ (http://www.besafenet.com/MSemail.pdf) – PVC

* _Crabtree & Evelyn Letter_

(http://www.besafenet.com/C & Epvcletter.pdf) – PVC

* _Hewlett Packard News Release_

(http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2005/051101a.html) – PVC and BFRs

* _Dell Letter_ (http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/dell_letter.pdf) and

_Dell Position Statement_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/dust/dell_position.pdf) – PBDEs and BFRs