STUDY Names The 10 Most Toxic Car Interiors ...
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http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/03/nissan_versa_mo.html
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Breathing in the exhaust coming out of a Nissan Versa may not be much worse for you than the toxic new car smell inside from all of the chemicals. According to the non-profit environmental group Ecology Center, sitting in a new Versa has an adverse effect beyond the olfactory organ.
Per their press release "the Ecology Center used a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device, which identifies the elemental composition of any material in less than 60 seconds."
The company looked for known toxins such as chlorine, bromine, arsenic, mercury and others, and the Versa scored the worsa, while the Chevy Cobalt was of the least concern.The group tested more than 200 vehicles for chemicals in the dashboard, steering wheel, carpet, armrests and other locations.
The group didn't quantify the amount of risk from its testing, but it is something to consider along with all of the other safety factors. If nothing else it may get companies to accelerate phasing out unnecessary chemicals in manufacturing.
Source: HealthyCar.org
Per their press release "the Ecology Center used a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device, which identifies the elemental composition of any material in less than 60 seconds."
The company looked for known toxins such as chlorine, bromine, arsenic, mercury and others, and the Versa scored the worsa, while the Chevy Cobalt was of the least concern.The group tested more than 200 vehicles for chemicals in the dashboard, steering wheel, carpet, armrests and other locations.
The group didn't quantify the amount of risk from its testing, but it is something to consider along with all of the other safety factors. If nothing else it may get companies to accelerate phasing out unnecessary chemicals in manufacturing.
Source: HealthyCar.org
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Sounds interesting. I would like to see what the health risks are. I'm sure some people get headaches from the new smell, but beyond that, is there a huge difference between a 3.8 and a 1.0?
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
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From: NC
Interesting. I just read an article in Chemical & Engineering News that tested the off-gassing of several new and old vehicles to determine the levels of volatile components (usually plasticizers or other organics).
Their measurements showed all the vehicles to off-gas many, many times lower than any of the published safety levels for the gases found. In other words, there were a lot of detectable compounds being released, but all were at such low levels as to be of no concern whatsoever.
Without quantitative numbers, the Ecology Center results are of little use. The Versa may be ten time more "polluted" than the Cobalt, but if the Versa is still a thousand times lower than the recommended threshold limit for the compound tested, both are equally safe by any practical standard.
Their measurements showed all the vehicles to off-gas many, many times lower than any of the published safety levels for the gases found. In other words, there were a lot of detectable compounds being released, but all were at such low levels as to be of no concern whatsoever.
Without quantitative numbers, the Ecology Center results are of little use. The Versa may be ten time more "polluted" than the Cobalt, but if the Versa is still a thousand times lower than the recommended threshold limit for the compound tested, both are equally safe by any practical standard.
The group didn't quantify the amount of risk from its testing, but it is something to consider along with all of the other safety factors.
Just another 'concerned' group trying to scare people with no scientific basis so they can raise money. Surprise, the group is in Berkeley California.
http://www.healthycar.org/about.ecology.php
http://www.ecologycenter.org/about.html
