That New Car Smell Is Bad For You
New cars have a distinct smell that some people like, mainly because it confirms that they are indeed driving their own brand new car. However, that new car smell is caused by something: leftover chemicals used in making the car. Yep, that new car smell really isn’t good for you, and in some cars it can be quite a concern. These chemicals are unhealthy for us to breathe and even unhealthy for us to get on our skin. They include: PBDEs, decanol, formaldehyde, naphthalene, acettonitrile and others. Some of these chemicals are linked to serious health problems.
There are several things you can do to get rid of the chemical residue. Give the inside of your new car a detailed washing before you start using it. Ventilate, leave all of the windows open as much as possible to air it out. When you use the air conditioning, use non-recirculating air. When possible, park in the shade, heat from the sun can cause the chemicals to become even more toxic. When you no longer smell that new car smell, you’ll know that the car is safer for you and your family to use. Here’s the most and least toxic cars.
Ten Most Toxic
Nissan Versa
Chevy Aveo
Scion xB
Kia Rio
Suzuki Forenza
Kia Spectra 5
Subaru Forester
Chevy Express
Hyundai Accent
Chevy Silverado
Ten Least Toxic
Chevy Cobalt
Chrysler PT Cruiser
Honda Odyssey
Volvo V50
Suzuki Aerio
Acura RDX
BMW X3
Nissan Frontier
Toyota Matrix
Volvo S40
