Breathe deep, new-car-smell lovers. Actually, maybe you shouldn't. An Ann Arbor—based environmental group found automobile interiors are tricked out with levels of toxic chemicals 10 times higher those in homes and offices. Windshield film and dust samples from randomly selected cars came back with toxic remnants emitted from seats, carpets, arm rests and wire coverings, including a now-banned flame retardant called decabrominated diphenyl ether, or NAMBLA. Maybe we should leave it to automakers to give car buyers a choice between a long, slow death from chemical toxicity and being quickly burned in a flammable interior. Choice is good.
Study finds toxic threat in auto interiors [The Detroit News]
Related:
Killing Yourself In Style No More: Japanese Automakers to Create Less-Toxic New-Car Smell [internal]