{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Americans could breathe carcinogenic chemicals while driving, recent research suggests.
A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has sparked discussion about potentially harmful toxins that could be lurking in vehicle cabins.
“Certainly, indoor air quality can cause health symptoms” Dr. Ken Speath, MD, division chief and medical director of occupational and environmental medicine at Northwell Health in Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.
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It’s important to be mindful of what you breathe at home, in the office, at school and even in cars, according to Speath, who was not involved in the study.
“There may be situations where levels of harmful chemicals become high enough to potentially harm health,” he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Americans may be breathing in cancer-causing chemicals while driving, recent research suggests. A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has sparked much discussion. (iStock)
“A car is a small, enclosed space – so anything in the air will definitely be breathed in.”
Research reveals ‘harmful chemicals’
The peer-reviewed study looked at 101 vehicles owned in the United States, model year 2015 or newer.
The researchers concluded that harmful flame retardant chemicals, including those suspected of potentially causing cancer and certain neurological problems – can pollute the air inside vehicles.
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“Flame-retardant chemicals, which are intentionally added to vehicle interiors to meet flammability standards, are released into the cabin air from the materials to which they were applied,” said the lead author Rebecca Hoehn, a scientist at Duke University, told Fox News Digital.
“People in these vehicles may be exposed to these chemicals.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seat foam was the only material the researchers measured, Hoehn said, but other interior materials could also contain these chemicals.
Researchers concluded that harmful flame retardants – including those suspected of causing cancer and some neurological problems – could pollute the air inside vehicles. (iStock)
“Considering that the average driver spends around an hour in their car each day, this represents a public health problem” Hoehn warned.
“This is of particular concern for drivers on longer journeys, as well as child passengers, who breathe more air, pound for pound, than adults.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Chemicals detected in the car cabins included a flame retardant called tris (1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), which is currently under investigation as a potential carcinogen by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. United.
“Given that the average driver spends about an hour in their car each day, this is a significant public health issue. »
Other flame retardants – tris (1, 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) – were also detected.
These are “two California Proposition 65 carcinogens linked to neurological and reproductive harm,” according to a press release.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Higher concentrations of flame retardants have been found in hot weather.
“We found that the same cars, sampled in winter and summer, had higher concentrations of flame retardants in the cabin air during the hot summer months,” Hoehn told Fox News Digital .
Flame retardants are added to vehicles to meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s federal motor vehicle safety standard, which mandated their use in the 1970s. (iStock)
Flame retardants are added to vehicles to meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 302), which mandated their use in the 1970s, the release said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Flame retardants have been “the focus for some time,” Speath told Fox News Digital.
More information is needed to determine the health risks these chemicals pose to humans, he said.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“A number of these substances have been shown in studies to be harmful to animal health,” he said.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean it would be true for humans, but it raises that possibility. So we need to study these chemicals more in relation to their effects on humans.”
Higher concentrations of flame retardants were found in hot weather, the researchers said. (iStock)
Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD, director of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, was also not part of the study but shared her reactions.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“This is a very relevant finding because it can lead to changes in the coating of cars, as well as other parts of the car where there is foam,” she said via email to Fox News Digital.
“We also want to learn more about this finding and check if it is replicated by other investigators.”
Other sources of toxins
Stephen Showalter, building and interior inspector ambiant air consultant with Showalter Property Consultants in Maryland, said he typically asks clients about their illness history and then tests for potential sources of illness in buildings, cars, RVs and boats.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Mold is a common culprit when it comes to health problems triggered by the environment, he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
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Dr. Daniel Johns, a member of the International Society of Environmentally Acquired Diseases and a chiropractor who practices in Annapolis, Maryland, echoed Showalter’s concerns about mold-related health problems.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Johns also warned that cars can be a daily source of mold exposure.
“Any water that leaks from a window, sunroof or convertible can soak into the carpet and cause mold growth,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital .
Mold is a common cause of health problems triggered by the environment, according to an environmental expert. (iStock)
“Mold can begin to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}For families with young children, spilled cups could play a role in mold in carsJohns warned.
“Water seeps into the upholstery and doesn’t show up or dry properly, and the entire seat can become moldy,” he said.
“Mold can begin to grow on a damp surface within 24 to 48 hours.”
“Every time you sit on the seat, a cloud of mold spores is released into the car. Once that happens, you can’t clean it. The covering must be removed and replaced.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The impact of these potentially harmful pollutants can vary from person to person, experts told Fox News Digital.
For families with young children, spilled cups could play a role when it comes to mold in cars, an expert has warned. (Children and car safety)
People metabolize chemicals and toxins in different ways, according to Taioli.
“Metabolism occurs through enzymes produced by the body,” he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“Each of us has a different genetic profile that defines our metabolic capacity. As a result, the same amount of toxin may be metabolized better/faster by some, and less well/slower by others.”
Tips for keeping indoors safe
Although more research into chemicals in vehicles is needed, experts say people can take steps to limit their exposure.
“People could reduce their exposure by ventilating their cars,” Hoehn advised.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“For example, rolling down the windows to let out contaminated airor drawing in fresh air with air conditioning systems, should reduce concentrations.
“Ultimately, reducing the amount of flame retardants added to vehicles would minimize the risk of exposure.”
Controlling the temperature of your vehicle’s cabin can also reduce exposure, she added.
“Parking in a garage or in the shade instead of in direct sunlight can reduce cabin temperatures and limit the magnitude of flame retardant releases,” Hoehn said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The researchers also called for action to regulatory agencies and car manufacturers.
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“Ultimately, reducing the amount of flame retardants added to vehicles would minimize the risk of exposure,” Hoehn noted.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“If vehicle flammability standards could be revised to meet fire safety guidelines without the use of added flame retardants, the risk of exposure to flame retardants from personal vehicles could be significantly reduced.”
To prevent mold in a vehicle, experts recommend keeping your windows open when it rains or snows to prevent water from penetrating the carpet or fabric. (iStock)
Having your car’s air quality and surfaces tested is one way to reduce the risk of exposure to allergens, toxins and chemicals, experts told Fox News Digital.
To prevent mold in a vehicle, Showalter recommends keeping your windows open when it rains or snows to prevent water from soaking into the carpet or fabric.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He also warned against leaking air conditioners, which can encourage mold growth in vehicles, and against leaving wet items in the car.
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Finally, before buying a used car, he said it’s important to check the vehicle’s history to make sure it hasn’t been damaged by flooding, which can lead to mold and other problems.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}If you think you may be suffering from an illness due to exposure to chemicals in your car, home, or office, it is best to seek medical attention. health care…
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