Are you worried about the harm that polluted air outside may cause to your health while commuting in your car? A new study suggests you might want to be even more concerned about the chemicals you are exposed to inside your vehicle than the outdoor air. In fact, both benzene and formaldehyde are used in car manufacturing.
Both are known to cause cancer when exposed to specific high levels, and benzene also poses risks for reproductive and developmental issues. Benzene is used to produce synthetic fibers, while formaldehyde is used as a bonding agent in plastics. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, calculated the daily amounts of benzene and formaldehyde inhaled by drivers with commutes of at least 20 minutes a day. They found that 90% of people in Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties have a less than 10% chance of exceeding the risk of cancer from inhaling these two chemicals, based on an average driving time of half an hour.
Study author, graduate student and professor of environmental toxicology, researcher Alicia Redman-Falls, notes: "Of course, there is a range of exposure to these chemicals, depending on how long you spend in the car and how many vehicles are emitting them. These chemicals are highly volatile and easily transfer from plastics and textiles to the air we breathe."
It is worth mentioning that the study will be published in the April issue of the international journal Nature. The researchers point out that while government agencies tend to regulate exposure to toxic chemicals in workplaces, this is not the case in private settings like homes and cars. The researchers also found that long commuting times are linked to increased exposure to the flame retardant TDCIPP, or Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, another known carcinogen.
**What Should Drivers Do?** Redman-Falls suggests that passengers keep the windows open while driving as much as possible, adding, "This will allow for at least some air flow, which will reduce the concentration of these chemicals inside your car. Additionally, there should be alternatives to these chemicals to achieve the same objectives during vehicle manufacturing."
