2nd Annual Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Cars and Children's Car Seats at www.Heal

[Guest guest]

Leading Environmental Organization Releases 2nd Annual Guide to Toxic

Chemicals in Cars and Children's Car Seats at _www.HealthyCar.org_

(http://www.HealthyCar.org)

_http://www.ecocenter.org/press/releases/20080722.php_

(http://www.ecocenter.org/press/releases/20080722.php)

 

Acura RDX and Smart Pure Rank As Least Toxic Cars;

GM Most Improved American Manufacturer

 

Most Toxic Cars:

Mitsubishi Eclipse, Suzuki Reno, BMW 128i

Most Toxic Car Seats:

Alpha Sport Vantage Booster, Britax Marathon Onyx

 

 

July 22, 2008

 

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Ann Arbor, MI)

- Today the Ecology Center released the 2nd annual consumer guide to toxic

chemicals in cars and children's car seats at _www.HealthyCar.org_

(http://www.healthycar.org/) . Over 200 of the most popular 2008- and

2009-model vehicles

and over 60 children's car seats were tested for chemicals that off-gas from

parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, seats, and carpet.

These chemicals become part of the air we breathe, contributing to **new car

smell** and a variety of acute and long-term health concerns. Since the average

American spends more than 1.5 hours in a car every day, toxic chemical

exposure inside vehicles is a major source of potential indoor air pollution.

Children are the most vulnerable population since their systems are still

developing.

**More and more consumers are concerned about the issue of toxic chemicals

in commonly used products - especially products related to children,** said

Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center's Clean Car Campaign Director. **While the

best car and child car seat manufacturers are starting to pay attention, far

too many companies have not yet phased out these dangerous chemicals.**

Overall, several auto manufacturers showed improvement over last year's

findings, including Mazda, General Motors and Nissan. General Motors, whose

average vehicle ranking improved by 27%, showed the most improvement of the

domestic automakers. Average child car seat scores improved by 28% overall,

proving

that toxic chemicals are not required for the manufacturing of child car

seats and interior automobile components. Best and worst picks for 2008 vehicles

and car seats are listed above and below, respectively.

Chemicals of primary concern include: bromine (associated with brominated

flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or

PVC and phthalates ); lead; and heavy metals. Such chemicals have been linked

to a wide range of health problems such as allergies, birth defects,

impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer.

Given escalating fuel prices, this year's rankings are also cross-referenced

with fuel economy figures, allowing consumers to find both healthy and fuel

efficient vehicles. Anyone looking to buy a new car or child car seat can

visit _www.HealthyCar.org _ (http://www.healthycar.org/) and search by model,

or

comparison shop between different models. For the first time, consumers are

able to access product ratings using mobile devices with SMS texting and a

mobile device optimized web site: _Mobile.HealthyCar.org_

(http://www.mobile.healthycar.org/) .

Last year the Ecology Center's HealthyCar.org research found the most toxic

vehicles were the Nissan Versa, Chevy Aveo, Scion xB 5dr and the Kia Rio. The

least toxic vehicles were the Chevy Cobalt, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda

Odyssey and the Volvo V50.

The law regulating chemicals in commerce, the Toxic Substance Control Act

(TSCA), is 30 years old and needs an overhaul. Visitors to HealthyCar.org are

encouraged to contact U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Chair of the Senate

Committee on Environment & Public Works, and U.S. Representative John Dingell

(MI), Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and ask for

oversight hearings on re-writing TSCA. HealthyCar.org is asking for complete

health

and safety testing on chemicals used in products and industry before they are

put on the market, and to promote innovation for safer alternatives.

To sample the vehicles and car seats, experts at the Ecology Center used a

portable X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) device, which identifies the elemental

composition of any material in less than 60 seconds. In each vehicle 11

different

components were sampled including: steering wheel, shift knob, armrest/center

console, dashboard, headliner, carpet, seat front, seat back, seat base,

hard door trim and soft door trim. Components sampled were those most likely to

be touched or otherwise contribute to human exposure. For car seats, seat

bases, clips, EPS foam, shades, trim, and/or arm rests were tested.

While there are numerous substances in vehicles that can lead to health and

environmental problems, HealthyCar.org selected those with known toxicity,

persistence, and tendency to build up in people and the environment. These

chemicals included:

Bromine:

Associated with the use of brominated flame retardants, BFRs are added to

plastics in order to impart fire resistance, but they are released into the

environment over the life of the vehicle. Heat and UV-ray exposure in cars can

accelerate the breakdown of these chemicals and possibly increase their

toxicity. Some BFRs have been associated with thyroid problems, learning and

memory

impairment, decreased fertility, behavioral changes, and other health

problems.

Chlorine:

Associated with the use of polyvinyl chloride, PVC is a widely used type of

plastic that is of concern to the environment and public health during all

phases of its life cycle. PVC often contains chemicals called phthalates, some

of which have been associated with decreased fertility, pre-term deliveries,

and damage to the liver, testes, thyroid, ovaries, kidneys, and blood. There

is also evidence that phthalates can pass from mothers to babies through the

placenta and through breast milk.

Lead:

Lead is sometimes used as an additive in automotive plastics. Exposure can

lead to a number of potential health effects including brain damage, and

problems with the kidneys, blood, nerves, and reproductive system. It can also

cause learning and behavioral problems.

Other:

Other chemicals tested as part of healthycar.org include antimony, arsenic,

chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, nickel and tin. The substances in this

category are allergens, carcinogens, or cause other adverse health impacts

depending on the concentrations and exposure levels.

The same chemicals that cause human health issues can also cause problems in

the environment. When vehicles are discarded at the end of their life, the

majority of plastic and other non-metallic parts are shredded and put in

landfills or burned in incinerators. When discarded in landfills, harmful

chemicals contained in vehicle plastics can leach out and contaminate soil and

water. When incinerated, toxic chemicals are dispersed throughout the

atmosphere.

Since 2007 the Ecology Center's product ratings have received widespread

national media attention and now include 450 vehicles and 130 child car seats

(both found at _www.HealthyCar.org_ (http://www.healthycar.org/) ) and over

1,200 toys (found at _www.HealthyToys.org_ (http://www.healthytoys.org/) ).

 

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