Could Your Car's Air be Carcinogenic? Here's What You Need to Know
You may be less concerned about a traffic jam on your
commute than anything else.
According to a recent study, flame retardant chemicals may be present in your
car's air and may cause cancer.
Researchers found flame retardants inside the cabins of 101 cars, all of which
were 2015 model year or newer. They published their results in the journal
Environmental Science and Technology on Tuesday.
The study's authors contended in a statement that
manufacturers employ these flame retardants in seat foam and other interior
materials in order to comply with a "outdated federal flammability
standard with no proven fire-safety benefit."
Lead author Rebecca Hoehn, a scientist at Duke University, stated in a press
release that "this is a significant public health issue, considering the
average driver spends about an hour in the car every day." Given that
children ride in cars and breathe more air per unit of weight than adults, this
is especially concerning for drivers who have longer journeys.