The Toxins in Automobiles

For many people, car ownership represents the achievement of a primary financial goal. For some, owning a car is a luxury; for others, it is a necessity. While fuel economy is a chief consideration for many car buyers today, automobile safety is another important factor. Unfortunately, many cars are not as safe as they seem.

Automobiles are rated for their safety performance through government crash tests, brake tests, and highway safety tests. Buyers also base a car's safety on various safety equipment: antilock brakes, stability control, traction control, air bags, and communication systems.

These are the obvious safety markers. Unfortunately, cars also harbor hidden dangers in the form of chemical toxins. Unless car owners educate themselves about automobile toxins, they will remain unaware of the serious safety concerns hidden inside their cars.

During the past fifty years or more, automobile manufacturers have built cars using many different materials. Some of them have since been identified as toxins -- pathogens, carcinogens, mutagens, and other harmful substances. By law, the automotive industry must report any known toxins in automobile construction. It is the responsibility of car owners and mechanics to learn about these toxins and take the necessary precautions.

Asbestos is one toxic substance used for decades by the auto industry. Resistant to heat and fire, asbestos was deemed an ideal material for various automotive parts: brake and clutch components, valves and gaskets, hood liners, and even vehicle seats. In the late 1970s, the United States government banned the use of asbestos due to its toxic properties. But many of today's older vehicles may still contain asbestos parts.

Asbestos exposure poses a considerable health risk to car owners and automotive technicians, particularly those who work on vintage cars, classic cars, and other older models. Intact asbestos is usually harmless, but when the material is compromised (broken, cut, or damaged), it can cause serious harm. When breathed into the lungs, asbestos particles can settle there and eventually cause asbestosis, lung cancer, or a rare cancer called mesothelioma. While mesothelioma has a long latency period, those diagnosed with the disease have a short life expectancy.

Exposure to other chemicals can cause serious health problems, too -- even in today's modern, high-tech automobiles. LCD displays contain mercury and other metals, such as barium, cadmium, and cesium. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals have been linked to birth defects, learning disabilities, behavior problems, and other health concerns.

Another automobile toxin is Bisphenol A, also known as BPA. Used in dashboard plastics and other interior parts, BPA can cause heart disease and cancer. BPA exposure is especially dangerous in hot weather and warm climates, when levels tend to increase.

Many people enjoy the “new car smell” inherent in new automobiles. But this pleasant scent also contains numerous toxins. In fact, the fragrance results from the off gassing of chemicals used in interior plastics, flooring, and upholstery. Lead, bromine, chlorine, and other interior chemicals have been linked to birth defects, cancer, and liver disease.