Could Your New Car be Poisonous?
Motor vehicles are anything but organic, but a new study has shown that the materials that make up the interiors of cars may actually be toxic to occupants. A study done by Ecology Center has tested 205 different vehicles from recent years to find out if the “new car smell” often associated with the purchase of a new vehicle is actually a health hazard caused by toxic chemicals.
During the study, researchers examined interior components from 2011 and 2012 model year vehicles to find out what chemicals were present and how much each vehicle contained. Specifically, new vehicles are at a higher risk of exposing occupants to chemicals because their components are new and are much more likely to emit chemical fumes, known as off-gassing, that can be hazardous to one’s health over a long period of exposure in the confined space of a vehicle. The study found that the vehicle with the worst toxic levels was the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, while the 2012 Honda Civic was the best.
Dangerous chemicals came with the use of flame retardants (which uses a heavy amount of bromine), PVC materials, and heavy metals to compose the interior components or coat them. All of these materials have been known to be toxic and can cause a great amount of off-gassing when heated up, which often occurs in vehicles. Additionally, materials such as polyurethane foam can break down over time, resulting in toxicity dangers for used vehicles as well. Fortunately, the study also found that 17 percent of 2011 and 2012 vehicles have eliminated use of PVC materials in interiors, compared to zero percent in 2006.
Automobile defects, such as toxicity, are often hard to detect until it is too late. If you or a loved one has been injured due to such a defect, the San Diego auto product liability lawyers at the Jurewitz Law Group can assist you in finding compensation for your losses from those responsible. Auto defect injuries are serious and often life-altering, so for more information on how we can help you, call (888) 233-5020.
