other chemicals, allergens, and heavy metals
XRF measurements of vehicle and child car seat components also
revealed the presence of other elements and chemical compounds containing
these elements. Since these are known to cause health and environmental
problems at varying degrees depending on concentration and application,
they were included in our evaluations, but at a lesser relative weight
than bromine, chlorine and lead. Voluntary and mandatory safety
standards for most of these chemicals have been published both in
the U.S. and Europe for computers, fabrics and leathers, office furniture
and vehicles. The “levels
of concern” in these standards — based either on leaching
tests or the percent by weight of the element contained in a material
— are typically much lower than levels found by XRF analyses of
car and car seat components. All of these chemicals may be released
from plastics or fabrics due to abrasion or evaporation. It must be
noted that the presence of low-level toxic metals in cars also has the
potential for negative environmental impacts during the end-of-life
processing of vehicles. Plastics and fabrics usually end up in automotive
shredder residue (ASR) from which they may be released to the broader
environment.
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1 BFR includes: PBB, TRIS, TEPA, pentaBDE, octaBDE. A list of approved flame retardant materials are listed on Oeko Tex website.
2 Chromium (VI)
3 Total Chromium content. 200 ppm adults/50 ppm children
4 www.svanen.nu/Eng/products
5 No PVC in housing and chassis. No chlorinated flame retardants.
6 No BFRs. Exemption for printed wiring boards and plastic parts weighing less than 25g. These parts must not, however, contain any PBB (polybrominated biphenyls), PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) or chlorinated paraffins (maximum allowable concentration for impurities is 0.1 % by weight in homogenous material).
7 Chromium (VI)
8 www.tcodevelopment.com
9 Plastic parts weighing more than 25 grams shall not contain flame retardants that include organically bound bromine or chlorine. Exempted are printed wiring board laminates, electronic components and all kinds of cable insulation. Plastic parts weighing more than 25 grams shall not contain chlorine or bromine as a part of the polymer. Parts containing other materials in any significant amounts . e.a. cables with their metail conductors are not included in the requirements.
HealthyCar.org ratings do not provide any absolute measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual element or related chemical. HealthyCar.org ratings only provide a relative measure of "level of concern" for the vehicles and car seat sampled. The ratings allow comparison of the presence and levels detected of chemicals of concern in any one vehicle or car seat to all others sampled. Below is a summary of the general environmental and health concerns related to these elements and related chemical compounds. All of the health concerns discussed below are dependent on many factors, including actual exposure levels, the valence levels of the elements and/or the actual chemical compound used in a vehicle or car seat component.
Antimony
DecaBDE and other BFRs are commonly combined with antimony trioxide during the production process to increase fire resistance. Antimony is also used as a catalyst in the production of polyesters. In our testing we found both lower levels of antimony (160–700 ppm range) that are consistent with polyester applications, as well as higher levels (2,000–5,000 ppm range) that may be consistent with flame retardant applications. In either case, it is possible that antimony is released from the plastic material and subsequently contaminates the air and dust inside the vehicle.
Antimony trioxide is classified as a carcinogen in the state of California and has been listed as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and the European Union. In long-term studies, animals that breathed very low levels of antimony had eye irritation, hair loss, lung damage, and heart problems. Higher levels of antimony have been shown to cause fertility problems and lung cancer in animals.
Arsenic
In automotive applications, arsenic is traditionally used as a biocide in coated fabrics. Arsenic is a known human carcinogen. There is strong evidence that it is linked to lung, skin, and bladder cancer. It may also cause skin irritation, blood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and hormone disruption.
Chromium
In vehicles, the presence of chromium compounds is often linked to leather tanning. Our vehicle testing confirmed that chromium (most likely Cr(III)) was often used in leather seating applications. Chromium compounds can be released from leather upholstery as the material is abraded during the life of the product. The toxicity of chromium strongly depends on the oxidation state of this element, two of the most common forms are the less toxic Cr(III) or the highly toxic Cr(VI) state. XRF does not, however, distinguish between oxidation states and only indicates the presence of the element chromium. While chromium is an essential nutrient, the most protective eco-label standards require no use of Cr in leather tanning. HealthyCar.org testing revealed wide-spread use of Cr in automotive seating.
There is evidence that chromium can cause asthma attacks and other allergic reactions, bronchitis and lung conditions, skin irritation, and kidney disorders. There is also evidence that exposure to hexavalent chromium may cause brain cancer, photosensitivity, stomach cancer, and possibly reduced fertility, immune system disorders, adult-onset Leukemia and other cancers.
Cobalt
Cobalt is used as a catalyst in production of polyethylene and other plastics. It can also be used as pigment in paints. HealthyCar.org detected cobalt in several different vehicle components.
Cobalt is essential in trace amounts for human life. It is part of vitamin B-12, and plays a key role in the body’s synthesis of this essential vitamin. The toxicity of cobalt is quite low compared to many other metals, however high exposure can cause several health effects. Cobalt is an allergen that can cause asthma and skin irritation. Some cobalt compounds are classified as a possible human carcinogen according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Long term exposure to low doses results in damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, blood, testes, and behavioral changes in laboratory animals. There is also strong evidence that cobalt is linked to hearing loss, lung and thyroid disorders. There is limited evidence that it causes lung cancer, damage to the pancreas, and skin cancer.
Copper
Copper has a number of uses in fabrics and plastics. Copper ions are often added to polyester and a variety of other fibers, ranging from cotton to rayon, polypropylene and nylon in order to protect against bacteria, fungus and odors. The main applications in vehicles include seat upholstery, carpets, headliners and trunk liners. Copper may also be used in combination with flame retardants to reduce the toxicity of combustion emissions.
Copper is an essential nutrient for all living things, but too much can be harmful. Long-term exposure to copper dust can irritate the nose, mouth and eyes, and cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and diarrhea. Exposure to excess levels of copper may result in liver and kidney damage, and anemia. Children may be more sensitive to copper than adults.
Nickel
Automotive uses of nickel are wide ranging, including printed circuit boards in electronic components, batteries, valves and other applications. Nickel is also increasingly used in electroplating of plastic components.
The most common harmful health effect of nickel in humans is allergic reaction. Approximately 10–15% of the population is sensitive to nickel. Reactions may occur in the form of skin irritations or asthma. The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that nickel metal may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen and that some nickel compounds are known human carcinogens.
Mercury
Mercury is used as a catalyst in reactions to form polymers. HealthyCar.org detected low concentrations of mercury in many different vehicle components.
Mercury is a persistent toxin that can build up in the body. According the Department of Health and Human Services, long-term exposure to high levels of methylmercury or phenylmercury causes behavior changes and damage to the kidneys, stomach, large intestine, circulatory system, and reproductive organs in animals. The nervous system is more sensitive to methylmercury toxicity than are other organs in the body and is affected at lower concentrations. Animal studies also provide evidence that mercury damages the nervous system during development and increases the incidence of spontaneous abortions and stillbirths. It is not known whether mercury compounds cause cancer in humans.
Tin
Organic tin compounds are used as catalysts and heat stabilizers in plastics production. They may also be used as additives in fabrics and plastics due to their strong fungicidal and bactericidal properties. Exposure to some organic tin compounds can occur through contact with consumer products that are made of PVC, polyurethane and other plastics, or when these products are abraded and turned into dust that is inhaled.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, breathing, swallowing, or direct skin contact with some organotins can interfere with the way the brain and nervous system work. Some have also been shown to affect the immune and reproductive system in animals, though the effects depend on the exact compound used. Direct contact with certain organotins can also produce skin and eye irritation.
For references, please download the full report.
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