The air in your car could be carcinogenic: study

Health

By Amy Eisinger

When it comes to your commute, traffic jams might be the least of your worries.

The air inside your car may be full of potentially carcinogenic substances in the form of flame retardant chemicals, a new study suggests.

The researchers, who published their results on Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, detected flame retardants in the cabin of 101 cars, all from models dated 2015 or more recent.

Manufacturers use such flame retardants in seat foam and other interior materials, to meet an “outdated federal flammability standard with no proven fire safety benefit,” the study authors argued in a press release.

“Considering that the average driver spends about an hour in the car each day, this is an important public health issue,” said lead author Rebecca Hoehn, a scientist at Duke University, in a press release from press. “This is of particular concern for drivers on longer journeys as well as child passengers, who breathe more air pound for pound than adults.”

Of the cars tested, 99 percent contained a chemical known as tris (1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate, a flame retardant that is currently under investigation by the U.S. National Toxicology Program as being potentially carcinogenic. Other chemicals found include tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate, two chemicals known to be carcinogens under California’s Proposition 65, which has prohibits the sale of new products containing these products. chemicals since 2020.

Researchers tested seat cushion foam and found that cars with the chemical TCIPP in their foam had higher concentrations in the cabin air, showing the source was the flame retardant used to treat the foam itself.

The study also looked at cars in summer and winter and found that temperature had an impact on air quality. Warmer weather was linked to higher off-gassing of chemicals, due to high temperatures. As many people know, the interior of a car can quickly become hot even when it’s not too hot outside. On a day when it’s 80 F, for example, after just 20 minutes in the sun, a car’s interior temperature can reach 109 F.

The researchers hope their findings will encourage updating so-called outdated flammability standards so that manufacturers stop using these chemicals.

“The only surefire way to significantly reduce exposure would be to not add flame retardants in the first place, which would require (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to update its standard,” said Dr. Lydia Jahl, senior scientist at Green. The Science Policy Institute in Berkeley, California, told the Post.

Those looking to reduce their exposure should keep the car well ventilated by keeping windows open as much as possible and parking in the shade. Jahl also noted that to his knowledge, no studies have shown that things like car seat covers (plastic or otherwise) would help reduce exposure. Cleaning your car regularly could help, she suggested, especially if you have young children.

“Ensuring sufficient ventilation through open windows and limited use of air recirculation mode are the simplest ways to reduce exposure,” Jahl advised.

Jahl also noted that it didn’t matter if a car was older or newer: the harmful vapors released into the air remained for years.

“The problem with using flame retardants in seat foam and other materials is that the tiny amounts of gases released over time can contribute to our exposure while leaving behind many chemicals flame retardants in materials for years to come,” Jahl warned.

Jahl said those looking to buy the “safest” car in this regard will unfortunately not be able to avoid flame retardants entirely due to current standards.

The researchers hope their results will encourage the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to update its standards regarding the use of flame retardants.

NHTSA told the Post via email that it is aware of the report and is reviewing it.