HealthyCar.org

Concern about the impact of the use of toxic chemicals, primarily used in plastics, in vehicles continues to grow. As both the number of cars in use and the time people spend in vehicles increases, the impact on the environment and human health from chemicals contained in materials grows. These chemicals have impacts during production, use and final disposal of vehicles. Of particular concern to vehicle purchasers are chemicals contained in materials that they routinely touch or chemicals that are released into the air inside the vehicle causing the “new car smell”.

HealthyCar.org is based on research conducted by the Ecology Center that looks at the presence of key hazardous materials contained in vehicles. The Center tested over 200 2006/2007 model year new vehicles for the elemental composition of 15 different components in the vehicles. The elemental composition of the materials allows the researchers to determine the presence of key toxic chemicals, including Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs); Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and phthalate plasticizers; and a range of heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, chromium, antimony and cadmium. The results of the research will be translated into a HealthyCar.org ranking which will easily allow the public to compare the relative performance of vehicles in each market class. Vehicle ranking will be available through HealthyCar.org, a consumer friendly, interactive web site.