Is Your Car Making You Sick?

Ronald Grisanti D.C. D.A.B.C.O., M.S.

If you are like most people, you probably can recognize the aroma of a new car.

Some call it, the new car smell.

But did you know that this new car smell is a toxic cocktail of harmful chemicals.

That all familiar smell emanates largely from chemicals known as volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that leach from glues, paints, vinyls and plastics in the passenger compartment.

The fumes can trigger headaches, sore throats, nausea and drowsiness.

Prolonged exposure to some of these chemicals have been found to lead to cancer.

According to a 2001 study by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, just sitting in a new car can subject riders to toxic emissions several times the limits found safe for homes or offices.

One Country is Stepping Up and Plans to Put End to This Toxic Cocktail

Earlier this year, the Japan auto industry agreed to cut cabin levels of 13 of the compounds, including possible cancer-causing agents styrene and formaldehyde, by the year 2007

Most of Japan's top five makers -- Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi and Mazda -- are already rolling out cars in compliance and touting the lower volatile organic compound levels as a key selling point, a move that is likely to catch on globally.

The US Lags Behind

Unfortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has no guidelines for volatile organic compounds in non-industrial settings.

In fact, the Washington-based Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which represents nine carmakers including General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG, says it does not follow the issue of volatile organic compounds.

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