The smell of the new car is not toxic

The smell of stingy plastic from new cars makes it hard for people to breathe, but they do not seem to be toxic, although it can increase allergies.

The molecules responsible for producing the odor are also called volatile organic molecules. They come out of plastic, synthetic fabrics, carpets, seats, adhesives, paints, cleaning materials and other sources. Only a small part of these volatiles is smelled, but most are odorless.

Jeroen Buters, a toxicologist at the Munich-based University of Technology in Germany, and his colleagues investigated the effects of these substances in cars on human health. They simulate the condition when the molecules escape the most in the car - when the car parked in the hot sun.

Buters and his associates first collected organic molecules from the air in a new car and a three-year-old used car at the same location under 14,000 watts of heat. Up to 65.5 degrees Celsius. Next, they exposed these substances to human cells, rats and hamsters in the laboratory. These are commonly used to check for toxicity.

The team found the smell of a new car did not seem to be toxic. It only slightly increases the immune system response, which can affect people with allergies, while older people do not.

Buters also investigated the " sickness syndrome", which means that employees seem to become sick after working in new buildings where the air is filled with organic matter.

Strangely, "if the concentration of these substances in the building is as high as in the new car, you will immediately be sent home because of sickness."

This difference makes Buters think: Maybe the new thought is important. "People are happier when they get into a new car than a refreshing one." Another factor might be ventilation, if you smell the car, you can pull the door.

T. An