"New Car Smell" Can Be Toxic
A Michigan-based ecology group released a report this month that so-called "new car smell" contains two toxic chemicals for drivers and passengers. The study called for tougher regulations to phase out the use of the chemicals, and also suggested that car owners take steps to reduce the release and breakdown of these chemicals by using solar reflectors, ventilating car interiors, and parking outside of sunlight whenever possible.
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On 4/15/2006 mebow wrote:
Our new car is making me ill. I thought it was car sickness but suspected a chemical reaction as I've heard of this happening years ago, (it was remedied by the extreme solution - replacing all plastic seat covering inside the car). I noted Anna's comments and wonder if there are other ways - ie washing the surfaces or treating them in some way. Does the chemical effect wear off? Has anyone further ideas please? Is it possible for me to obtain a copy of the Michigan report Anna mentions? I'm due to go on a long trip in the car in a couple of days and I'm a bit nervous. I've never suffered from severe allergies of any kind.
Margaret
On 5/5/2006 hobie wrote:
I have recently encountered the same problem with a new car. I noticed the first few times I drove the car for more than 15 minutes at a time that I would get a strange, chemical taste in my mouth. The taste would persist until after I had been out of the car for around 20-30 minutes. I also noticed periodic light-headedness and stomach butterflies, but wasn't sure it was the car. I suspected I was absorbing something toxic, and started doing research. That is when I came across the January 2006 report, "Toxic At Any Speed". I have since then been on the phone with both the testing company and the publishers of the report. We are currently trying to return the car after having it only 3 weeks, but it looks like we are going to eat a chunk of change...
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On 4/15/2006 mebow wrote:
Our new car is making me ill. I thought it was car sickness but suspected a chemical reaction as I've heard of this happening years ago, (it was remedied by the extreme solution - replacing all plastic seat covering inside the car). I noted Anna's comments and wonder if there are other ways - ie washing the surfaces or treating them in some way. Does the chemical effect wear off? Has anyone further ideas please? Is it possible for me to obtain a copy of the Michigan report Anna mentions? I'm due to go on a long trip in the car in a couple of days and I'm a bit nervous. I've never suffered from severe allergies of any kind.
Margaret
On 5/5/2006 hobie wrote:
I have recently encountered the same problem with a new car. I noticed the first few times I drove the car for more than 15 minutes at a time that I would get a strange, chemical taste in my mouth. The taste would persist until after I had been out of the car for around 20-30 minutes. I also noticed periodic light-headedness and stomach butterflies, but wasn't sure it was the car. I suspected I was absorbing something toxic, and started doing research. That is when I came across the January 2006 report, "Toxic At Any Speed". I have since then been on the phone with both the testing company and the publishers of the report. We are currently trying to return the car after having it only 3 weeks, but it looks like we are going to eat a chunk of change...
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