December 2013
Dear EarthTalk: Can you discuss
pollutants in car interior materials,
and also pollution inside cars originat-
ing from gasoline and diesel exhausts
outside the car?
– Mervyn Kline, Philadelphia, PA
The interior of your car may seem
like a safe haven from air pollution, but
it may actually be quite the opposite.
Chemicals emanating from the steering
wheel, dashboard, armrests and seats
mix with the airborne pollution being
generated under the hood to form a
witch’s brew of toxins for those riding
inside.
“Research shows that vehicle interiors
contain a unique cocktail of hundreds
of toxic chemicals that off-gas in small,
confined spaces,” says Jeff Gearhart of
the Ecology Center, a Michigan-based
non-profit. The extreme air tempera-
tures inside cars on sunny days can
increase the concentration of Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs) and break
other chemicals down into more toxic
constituents.
Some of the worst offenders include
airborne bromine, chlorine, lead, and
other heavy metals. “Since these chemi-
cals are not regulated, consumers have
FEATURES
no way of knowing the dangers they
face,” adds Gearhart.
Exhaust fumes also find their way
into the passenger cabins of many cars.
The International Center for Tech-
nology Assessment (ICTA) found that
concentrations of carbon monoxide (a
noxious by-product of internal com-
bustion known to cause headaches,
dizziness, nausea and fatigue as well
as being a major asthma trigger) may
be 10 times higher inside any given
car than outdoors along the roadside.
ICTA added that in light of the fact
that the average American spends an
hour and a half driving around each
day, in-car air pollution may pose “one
of the greatest modern threats to hu-
man health.”
To help consumers minimize their
exposure, the Ecology Center released
the fourth version of its Consumer Guide
to Toxic Chemicals in Cars in 2012, com-
paring over 200 different cars across
the 2010 and 2011 model years.
Those scoring the most kudos in re-
gard to interior air quality include the
Honda Civic, Toyota Prius and Honda
CR-Z. The Civic scored first by being
free of bromine-based flame retardants
(BFRs) in interior components, utiliz-
ing polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-free
interior fabrics and trim, and having
low levels of heavy metals.
Meanwhile, pulling up the rear were
Mitsubishi’s Outlander Sport, the
Chrysler 200 SC and the Kia Soul. The
Outlander finished in last place due
to its use of BFRs as well as antimony-
based flame retardants in its interior,
chromium treated leather components
and excessive amounts of lead in seat-
ing materials.
The Southwest Portland Post • 7
“The good news
is overall vehicle
ratings are improv-
ing,” reports the
E c o l o g y C e n t e r,
adding that the top
performers have
gotten rid of BFRs
and PVC altogether
in their interiors.
“Today, 17 percent
of new vehicles
have PVC-free in-
teriors and 60 per-
cent are produced
without BFRs.”
Consumers can The Honda Civic, Honda CR-Z and the Toyota Prius (pictured
here) had the best air quality in The Ecology Center's 2012 Con-
check on their
sumer Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Cars.
late model car by (Photo courtesy of Toyota)
steering their web
browser to the HealthyStuff.org web-
Contacts: Ecology Center, www.
site, the Ecology Center’s free online
ecocenter.org; ICTA, www.icta.org;
resource for consumer information.
Model Year 2011/2012 Guide to New
While environmental and public
Vehicles, www.healthystuff.org/docu-
health groups are working to try to get
ments/2012_Cars.pdf.
automakers to clean up their interiors,
EarthTalk® is written and edited by
individuals can reduce their exposure
Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a
by parking in the shade, using interior
registered trademark of E - The Environ-
sun reflectors to keep temperatures
mental Magazine (www.emagazine.com).
down inside the car and rolling down
Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.
the windows to let the fresh air in.
com.
Classic Multnomah Village
New Custom Home – $519,000
Located at 3905 SW Dolph Ct. Designed with efficiency of
space and featuring top quality finishes and workmanship.
Personal selections of interior finishes, slab, hardwoods, tile are
encouraged. Local custom builder, Mission Homes, offering a
custom home building opportunity; Now under construction,
ideal close-in location convenient to OHSU & downtown.
Contact Tim “TC” Cairns
Real Estate Broker at 503-495-5012
or visit www.TimCairns.com
www.MissionHomesNW.com