Tips categories
Articles with planet-saving tips to help protect the environment we all affect!
Green News Blog
Environmental stories, opinion pieces and site news
Official Sponsor
Renewable energy - solar power, wind and hot water
Article Options

bookmark or share this page
Popular Articles
  1. Brown rice vs white rice
  2. Hydrogen peroxide tips
  3. 30 baking soda tips
  4. White bread vs brown bread
  5. 24 handy lemon tips
  6. White sugar vs raw sugar
  7. Dealing with dog poop
  8. Versatile vinegar tips
  9. Baking soda introduction
  10. Uses for olive oil
No popular articles found.
Get involved!
Feel free to add comments to tips and blog posts & build on the information or click here to submit new earth friendly tips and environmental news items!
 »  Home  »  transport  »  New car smell is toxic
New car smell is toxic
By Green Living Tips | Published  11/23/2006 | transport
Carcinogenic cars
Solar panels, wind turbines and batteries
I freely admit it, I love the smell of a new car and I'm really not sure why :).

It turns out that the new car smell may be highly toxic. A study by the very highly respected Australian organization, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that benzene levels in some new car as high as 500% above the recommended exposure limit. Benzene is a known carcinogen; i.e. causes cancer. Some of the other dangerous chemicals that create the new car smell are:

Acetone - a known irritant
Xylene isomers - harmful to foetuses
Formaldehyde - carcinogen
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PDBE)

Of course, that's not to mention the damage done to the environment in the production of vehicles.

If you have purchased a new car or are about to, you might want to consider also factoring in a car air purifier into your budget.

Do you have any green tips for minimizing or removing these toxic vapors from your car - please share them below :)
bookmark or share this page
 
Michael Bloch
Green Living Tips.com
Article reproduction guidelines

Visit our sponsor, Energy Matters, for solar panels and wind power!
Comments
  • Comment #1 (Posted by )

    I have no idea if it will work but maybe cleaning the seats and capet with soap and water might help. I don't know if I would feel confortable doing that to a new car. Or if possible resist to urge to drive your new car for a few days and leave the windows open.
     
  • Comment #2 (Posted by nancy)

    This new car smell takes at least 6 months

    to get rid of the fumes. Keep your windows open and

    try vinegar.


     
  • Comment #3 (Posted by elihu baer)

    i have a chevy impala for over a year and have tried everything to get rid of the voc's and my wife still gets migraines every time she gets into it does anyone have anyyyyyyy idea what i can do i even called gm and they have no answer
     
Submit Comment (reviewed before publishing)