New car smell - alluring but terrifying

New car interior smell can cause cancer. Photo:Nissan.

Special pageCarBuzzCiting a study that found that the smell of a new car can cause deadly diseases, such as cancer. Specifically, the alluring scent that many people love is a mixture of several chemicals, including benzene and formaldehyde, which have been linked to rare cancers and even acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Cancer risk

The study, conducted by a team of researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology, looked at a mid-size plug-in hybrid SUV that had been on the market for less than a month, with an interior filled with plastic, textiles, and faux leather.

The SUV was parked in various locations both indoors and outdoors, but the team ensured that emissions from other vehicles did not affect the results of the study. Over the course of 12 days, the team said a total of 20 different chemicals were generated inside the cabin, leading to alarming results.

The graph shows the increase in chemical levels inside the car's interior after 8 days of observation. Photo:Science Direct

The amount of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde produced in the interior of the new SUV exceeded the allowable limit according to China's national safety standards.CarBuzzIt is emphasized that formaldehyde is a powerful chemical used in the preservation of corpses and is often thought to cause cancer.

During the testing, researchers determined that health risks could occur to both drivers and passengers. Specifically, the increased human carcinogenic risk (ILCR) index for exposure to chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde showed signs of increasing. Therefore, even spending just 30 minutes inside a new car could put anyone at risk.

Commenting on this result, Mr. Oliver Jones - Chemistry professor from Melbourne (Australia) - believes that the research was conducted carefully.

“We know from previous studies that for some people, new car smell can cause health problems such as dizziness, nausea or difficulty breathing. From a health perspective, it’s probably best that a new car doesn’t smell,” Professor Oliver Jones concluded.

New car smell can cause health problems for consumers. Illustration photo:Nissan

It is known that the research byEmissions AnalyticsThe company has previously warned that the chemicals that create odors in new cars are dangerous and that users should not inhale them.

“These chemicals will mix into the space inside the cabin, before being absorbed by the surfaces in the car at night. They will continue to rise and mix into the air in the car, combining with the heat from the sun to create a mixture of volatile organic compounds that can last for quite a long time,” the representative said.Emissions Analyticssaid.

This has led to dizziness, nausea and even headaches for many people when getting into new cars.CarBuzzsaid lawmakers are looking to enforce stricter regulations around the use of these chemicals in the auto industry.

Solution

According toAndatech, a health and safety solutions company in Australia, new car owners can use a number of temporary solutions to quickly remove the chemical mixture from their new car.

Specifically, ventilation is mentioned as the top priority solution to effectively "eliminate" the new car smell. Lowering the windows as much as possible while driving will help push the chemical mixture from the new car's interior out, while also allowing more fresh air to circulate into the car.

If you must use air conditioning, it is best to use the outside air intake mode. This will allow outside air to still circulate into the passenger compartment.

The internal air intake mode does not reduce the interior smell of new cars. Illustration photo:Vinh Phuc

Besides,Andatechalso proposed a solution combining a fan with heating the passenger compartment to quickly remove unpleasant odors from the new car. Increasing the temperature inside the car will cause harmful chemicals to quickly release into the air. Combined with a fan, these chemicals will be pushed out of the car before they can be absorbed back into the surface of the interior details.

Car owners can also use activated charcoal and baking soda to absorb chemicals emitted from new car interiors. According toAndatechThe above two materials are known for their good absorption capacity, while not causing adverse effects on the health of users.

In addition, combining the use of an air purifier with regular car washing also helps to remove dangerous chemicals found in new cars.