New car smell???

[Guest guest]

http://www.healthycar.org/video.php

 

 

Concern about the impact of the use of toxic chemicals,

primarily used in plastics, in vehicles continues to grow. As

both the number of cars in use and the time people spend in vehicles increases,

the impact on the environment and human health from chemicals contained in

materials grows. These chemicals have impacts during production, use and final

disposal of vehicles. Of particular concern to vehicle purchasers are chemicals

contained in materials that they routinely touch or chemicals that are released

into the air inside the vehicle causing the “new car smell”.

HealthyCar.org

is based on research conducted by the Ecology Center

that looks at the presence of key hazardous materials contained in vehicles.

The Center tested over 200 2006/2007 model year new vehicles for the elemental

composition of 15 different components in the vehicles. The elemental

composition of the materials allows the researchers to determine the presence

of key toxic chemicals, including Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs); Polyvinyl

Chloride (PVC) and phthalate plasticizers; and a range of heavy metals, such as

mercury, lead, chromium, antimony and cadmium. The results of the research will

be translated into a HealthyCar.org ranking which will easily allow the public

to compare the relative performance of vehicles in each market class. Vehicle

ranking will be available through HealthyCar.org, a consumer friendly,

interactive web site.