Study Of Interior Toxicity Released
Environmentally friendliness is the flavor of day in the world of marketing. But let's face it: eco-friendly claims usually begin and end with mileage and CO2 emissions. But what about the environment you occupy when you're driving your car? The Ecology Center has released its Healthy Car Report, which monitors toxic chemical levels in car interiors. Using a portable X-Ray fluorescence device, the Ecology Center tests 11 interior components on a range of new cars for toxic chemicals like Antimony, Arsenic, Bromine, Chlorine, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Nickel and Tin. Some of the worst offenders? Mitsubishi's Eclipse and the Suzuki Reno, which have more Bromine than the salt marshes of Montpellier. The Kia Spectra has a particularly high lead count. And the Nissan Versa scores a worst-possible 5.0 overall thanks to a smorgasbord of toxic interior materials. For a complete look at the best and worst cars by class, check out the report's vehicles of most and least concern. Or, for an overview on the report, check out the Ecology Center's mildly sensationalistic video "Toxic At Any Speed." And enjoy that new car smell!
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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Don't the Japanese actually have a program to limit the outgassing of VOC's allowed for interior materials? Maybe that's why they seem to score better.
Danm, Just what I need to do: feel bad about that new car smell. I wish that aroma could be bottled and sold. BTW, a poster mentioned chlorine (and its iterations like PVC) as being rather benign. Unfortunately that's not true. Chlorine, while widely used in the industrialized world, has some serious health issues. Spend a little time googling about it; its not so harmless after all... Landcrusher said: Buying used...It is a healthier choice, if for no reason other than reduced stress. Ain't that the truth...car payments suck...
I did a build to order for a Jeep TJ a few years ago. I was driving it five days after it rolled off the line, and boy, that was tough driving it as it stunk! It was winter too, so I was forced to leave the windows up.
Here's an idea. Bring your new car down to Houston in the summer. Leave it sitting with the windows down. All the interior's toxins will get boiled out by the heat and humidity. :)