Beware: That New Car Smell is Toxic!
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 09.27.05
Do you like that "new car" smell? Yes? Do you sniff glue? No? Well, check this out: "New car smell could contain up to 35 times the health limit set for volatile organic chemicals in cars in Japan, making its enjoyment akin to glue-sniffing. The chemicals found included ethyl benzene, xylene, formaldehyde and toluene used in paints and adhesives," and "the van was found to contain 113 kinds of volatile organic chemicals, mostly hydrocarbons. It took four months to fall below the safe limit set by the state but shot above it again in the hot summer months even after two years."
Since many researchers are linking the "new car smell" toxic cocktail to cancer and other health problems, that distinctive smell that some many people seem to like (no wonder) may soon be gone. Japanese carmakers have already started to reduce cabin concentrations thanks to Japanese government guidelines, and it wouldn't be surprising if European and North-American carmakers followed soon. In the meantime, if you have a new car, we recommend you try to ventilate it as much as possible, especially if it still has that "new car smell".
One more reason to ride your bike.
::New-Car Smell Causes Safety Concerns, ::Enjoying the smell of a new car 'is like glue-sniffing', ::What exactly causes "new car smell"?, ::NEW CAR SMELL, ::New car smell linked to cancer
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I'm sure this is no surprise for many. I've always felt pretty nauseous after sitting a new car for a while (especially when I was a kid). Good riddance.
What exactly IS that "new car smell?" Is it some kind of cleaning agent? Or is it just "fresh upholstry" or something?
Nick,
The Straightdope link tries to answer that (the other links also have some info). Apparently there's so much stuff that it's hard to pinpoint what exactly it is, but there's part of it:
"Many people believe the smell comes from phthalates (THAL-ates), softeners used in plastic manufacture. [...] The only research we could find was a 1995 analysis of the air in a new Lincoln Continental (check it out yourself at www.sisweb.com/referenc/appln ote/app-36-a.htm). More than 50 volatile organic compounds were found, suggesting that new-car smell was a mix of lubricants, solvents, adhesives, gasoline, and no doubt some bits from the vinyl, though it's hard to say exactly what. None of these things is necessarily good for you. I hate to cause a panic . . . well, actually I love to cause a panic. All I'm saying is that people like new-car smell, and from long experience we know that if you like something, it's bad."
A new car is such a waste of money anyway.
I used to get my car washed at a place that could scent the car with a new car smell or strawberry. I wonder if that was bad for me too.
A few years back, in an extended period of temporary insanity, I bought my first new car. I then began getting headaches from my commute. It was winter in Chicago so I never rolled down the window. Was it Sick Car Syndrome? Or was it the 90-minute commute in aggravating traffic? I can't be sure, but when I switched jobs and began taking the train, the headaches went away.
Hi,
I just leased a new 2005 Acura EL and picked it up 1 week ago,I was hoping to enjoy this car and was very excited to drive it.I cant tell you how sick I have become ,the car upolstery is so toxic to me and my 2 kids I cant tell you.I have become dizzy,headaches,nausia,sore throat that will NOT go away,I am so afraid to get in it to drive.Unfortuatlly I have a long drive to work about 35 k each way and when I get to work I feel like I need to be sick,etc.I dont know what to do about this,I know the manufactures are starting to reconize this,but what do I do in mean time,I dont want to become so ill I cant function and I can forsee this soon,I feel so sick,PLEASE HELP.what can I do,I have money in down payment,how can I solve this.venting the car is bull,I cant keep doing this always.
Anynomous,
I don't know what to tell you except to vent the car as much as possible, both when you're in it and when not in it (keep an eye on it, though). Wash all surfaces with a humid rag many times and make sure when you're in the car to either have the windows open or to have air that comes from outside (no recirculating).
Tell me about it... I just got the Scion 66 xB a couple of weeks ago... and yes... I leave it in the garage with the windows open... but it's not as bad as it used to be... Toyota for one makes a somewhat conscious effort to pick materials that don't outgas for too long... But I remember my sister's VW bug in the 70's... the smell from the vinyl seats was so bad, it never went away, and I would get an instant migraine from it. One day it was stolen (my fault, I left the keys in the ignition) - probably subconsciously intentional.
Anonymous -
While you're waiting for your car to detox, perhaps try working on detoxing your body and strengthing your liver to help move the toxins out faster. I found this approach to be very helpful when I was having chemical sensitivity problems to the new carpeting at my old office.
Take a lot of Vitamin C everyday (I take 3000 mg). Eat a lot of sulfur-containing veggies like onions, garlic, broccoli - the osteopath I was working with said that sulfur binds to toxins and helps to evacuate them from the body. He also recommended taking NAC for the same reason. You can also try going on a juice fast for a little while - you'll feel terrible the first few days as your body purges toxins, and then you will feel fantastic.
But whatever you do - eat well and drink LOTS of water. Strengthen your body, it's your best defense.
Nick, I was told that the new car smell is the smell of car paint.
That was really stupid of me. I apologize.
WOW!!! So, an article comes along that says "NEW CAR SMELL...BAD FOR YOU" and it's chaos all over. That car smell has been in business for well, since they made the first four wheeled vehicle. Sure you get headaches, nausea, and maybe sleepiness but the point is that as long as cosumers continue to ask and buy those new cars so that they can inhale the toxics of "NEW CAR SMELL", it's not really going away. They might discontinue with the ingredients but something else will come up that will be bad for us...say, like not driving at all.
I am allergic to something coming from my cars AC system. This is very distressing since I live in Florida and driving without air is disabling.
THe air from my system burns my throat and eyes and peels the skin off my lips.
Help.
Estelle
What I'd like to know is - is the "new car smell" aerosol spray also toxic, or does it reproduce the smell using safer chemicals?
I have chemical allergies and a new car is a dangerous place for me to be. I have to buy cars that are 5 years or older.
I react within minutes and will suffer the consequences for weeks. I cannot put new carpeting in my home, must be hardwood. New furniture has to be in my house for years before I can sit on it for more than 5 minutes.
I never knew I had this allergy until I bought my first new car. I became very very ill and had to sell it and lost my $10,000.00 deposit. Very frustrating!
thank you .
I knew guy who used an ozone machine for days on a new carpet to reduce the smell. You can probably rent it and leave it running in your car for a week. Or if you bought a good home air filter ( with VOC filtration) you could put that in your car and keep it running whenever the car is not in use; just have the cord come out of a slightly open car window. The idea is that you will speed up outgassing by removing the chemical soup that's always saturated in the car air. Its definitely a cheaper alternative than some of these other posts who were facing losing thousands of deposit money. You can also wear a NOSH face mask (available at any hardware store.) They really work but are a little heavy and uncomfortable and may draw stares from outsiders. The rubber part that touches your face needs to be left to outgas for a couple years, so buy now!