Americans may be taking a breather. carcinogenic chemicals According to recent research, while driving.
A study published in the journal Environment Science & Technology has sparked a debate about potentially harmful toxins lurking in the interior of your car.
“Certainly due to indoor air quality, health symptoms,” Dr. Ken Spieth, chief of occupational and environmental medicine and medical director at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told FOX News Digital.
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Spieth, who was not involved in the study, said it’s important to be careful about what you breathe in at home, at the office, at school, and even in your car.
“There can be situations where the levels of harmful chemicals can be high and pose a health hazard,” he said.
Americans may be breathing in cancer-causing chemicals while driving, according to a recent study. The study, published in the journal Environment Science & Technology, has sparked much debate. (St. Petersburg)
“A car is a small, enclosed space, so anything that’s in the air is going to be sucked in.”
Research reveals ‘hazardous chemicals’
The peer-reviewed study looked at 101 vehicles owned in the United States that were model year 2015 or newer.
Researchers believe that harmful flame-retardant chemicals (including some suspected ones) can cause cancer Some neurological problems may cause the air inside your car to be contaminated.
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“Flame retardant chemicals that are intentionally added to vehicle interiors to meet flammability standards are released into the cabin air by the materials to which they are applied,” said lead author Rebecca Scientist at Duke University. Horn told Fox News Digital.
“People riding in these vehicles can be exposed to these chemicals.”
Horn said the researchers only measured seat foam, but other interior materials may also contain chemicals.
Researchers conclude that harmful flame-retardant chemicals, including those suspected of causing cancer and some neurological problems, may be contaminating the air inside cars. I attached it. (St. Petersburg)
“This is extremely important considering the average driver spends about an hour in the car every day. public health issues” Mr. Horn warned.
“This is especially concerning for drivers with long commutes and child passengers who breathe in more air per pound than adults.”
The chemicals detected inside the vehicle include a flame retardant called tris(1-chloroisopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), which is currently being investigated as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. National Toxicology Program. ing.
“This is a significant public health issue, given that the average driver spends about an hour in their car each day.”
Other flame retardants tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) were also detected.
According to a press release, these are “two California Proposition 65 carcinogens associated with neurological and reproductive harm.”
Higher concentrations of flame retardants were detected in warmer climates.
“When we sampled the same cars in both winter and summer, we found that during the warm summer months, there were higher concentrations of flame retardants in the air inside the car,” Horn told FOX News Digital.
Flame retardants are added to vehicles to meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s federal motor vehicle safety standards, which mandated their use in the 1970s. (St. Petersburg)
Flame retardants are added to vehicle The release states that this is to meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 302), which was mandated in the 1970s.
Spieth told FOX News Digital that flame retardants have been “a focus of concern for some time.”
More information is needed to determine the health risks these chemicals pose to humans, he said.
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“Many of these have been shown in research to be harmful to animal health,” he said.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the case in humans, but it does make it more likely, so we need to study these chemicals further in relation to their effects on humans.”
The researchers found that concentrations of flame retardants were higher in warmer climates. (St. Petersburg)
Emanuela Taioli, MD, director of the Institute of Translational Epidemiology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, who was not involved in the study, also shared her reaction.
“This is a very important finding because it could prompt changes to the car’s upholstery and other parts of the car where the foam is present,” she told Fox News Digital via email. .
“We also want to learn more about this finding and monitor whether it is replicated by other researchers.”
other toxin sources
Stephen Showalter, Home Inspector, Indoor environmental air Consultants at Showalter Property Consultants in Maryland said they typically ask clients about their medical history and inspect buildings, cars, RVs and boats for potential sources of illness.
He said in an interview with Fox News Digital that when it comes to health problems caused by the environment, mold is a common culprit.
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Dr. Daniel Johns, a member of the International Society for Environmental Infectious Diseases and a chiropractor practicing in Annapolis, Maryland, echoed Showalter’s concerns about mold-related health issues.
Johns also warned that cars can be exposed to mold on a daily basis.
“Water that leaks from windows, sunroofs, convertibles can get into the carpet and cause mold growth,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.
According to environmental experts, mold is a common cause of environmental health problems. (St. Petersburg)
“Mold can begin to grow on wet surfaces within 24 to 48 hours.”
In homes with small children, spilled sippy cups can cause problems. car moldwarned Johns.
“Water can seep into the upholstery, go unnoticed, don’t dry properly, and end up moldy all over the seat,” he says.
“Mold can begin to grow on wet surfaces within 24 to 48 hours.”
“Every time you sit in your seat, a cloud of mold spores is released into your car. Once that happens, you can’t clean it out. Upholstery has to be removed and replaced.”
The effects of these potentially harmful pollutants can vary from person to person, experts told Fox News Digital.
Spilled sippy cups can lead to mold in your car, experts have warned, especially if you have young children in your household. (Children and car safety)
According to Taioli, people metabolize chemicals and toxins in different ways.
“Metabolism occurs through enzymes that the body produces,” he said.
“Each of us has a different genetic profile that defines our metabolic capacity. As a result, for the same amount of toxin, some people metabolize it better/faster, and others worse/slower.” There is likely to be.”
Tips for keeping your home safe
More research is needed on chemicals from cars, but experts say people can take steps to limit their exposure.
“People may be able to reduce their exposure by ventilating their cars,” Horne advised.
“For example, if you roll down the window and take it outside, polluted airor using a climate control system to draw in fresh air should reduce concentrations.
“Ultimately, reducing the amount of flame retardants added to vehicles in the first place will reduce exposure risk the most.”
Exposure may also be reduced by controlling the temperature inside the vehicle, she added.
“Parking in a garage or in the shade instead of in the sun can reduce the temperature inside the vehicle and limit the range of flame retardant release,” Horn said.
The researchers also called on people to take action: Regulatory authority and car manufacturers.
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“Ultimately, reducing the amount of flame retardants added to vehicles in the first place will reduce exposure risk the most,” Horn said.
“If vehicle flammability standards could be revised to meet fire safety guidelines without the use of additional flame retardants, the risk of flame retardant exposure from private vehicles could be significantly reduced.”
To prevent mold inside your car, experts recommend opening windows when it’s raining or snowing to prevent water from seeping into carpets and fabrics. (St. Petersburg)
Testing your car’s air quality and surfaces is one way to reduce your risk of exposure to allergens, toxins and chemicals, experts told FOX News Digital.
To prevent mold inside your car, Showalter recommends opening the windows when it’s raining or snowing to prevent water from seeping into carpets and upholstery.
He also warned against leaking air conditioners and leaving wet objects inside cars, which can encourage mold growth inside cars.
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Finally, before buying a used car, it’s important to check the car’s history to see if there’s any water damage that could lead to mold or other problems, he said. .
If you think you’re getting sick from exposure to chemicals in your car, home, or office, it’s best to see a doctor. doctor; medical worker To discuss symptoms.
Fox News Digital has reached out to several major auto companies for comment.
For more health articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/health.
