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frequently asked questions
about Vehicles
What if the car I am interested in is not listed?
HealthyCar.org tested approximately 450 of the most popular vehicle models that were available at dealerships between October and December of 2006 and April to June of 2008. If the vehicle you are interested in is not listed at HealthyCar.org, it is likely that the vehicle has a low sales volume, or was introduced to the market after June 2008. Also, due to constant turnover of vehicles at dealerships, we are restricted by the models available on the dealer's lot on the day of sampling. You can sign up to receive email updates that will announce when new models are tested.
Why didn't every vehicle model for every model year get tested?
HealthyCar.org is a small organization and is therefore unfortunately limited in its ability to sample every single vehicle on the market. Other limiting factors include the availability of certain vehicle models and model years for testing at dealerships in the area. You can sign up to receive email updates that will announce when new models are tested.
What should I do if my car is listed as a vehicle of high concern?
Since heat accelerates off-gassing and UV-rays facilitate the photochemical breakdown of chemicals into even more toxic compounds, we recommend using solar reflectors and parking in the shade whenever possible. It is a good idea to ventilate your car before entering by opening doors and rolling down windows. Installation and use of activated carbon air filters may also reduce exposure to some harmful chemicals. In addition, we recommend spending less time in your car by walking, riding a bike, or using public transportation whenever possible. This also helps reduce tailpipe emissions and save money on gasoline.
Visit our Take Action! page to find out what else you can do to reduce your exposure to toxic chemicals and encourage automakers to manufacture healthier vehicles.
What if the vehicle I am interested in has a different trim level than the model you tested (i.e., I have a Ford Explorer Limited, but you tested a Ford Explorer XLT)?
HealthyCar.org tested the base level trim line or other popular trim line of most vehicle models. Automakers often use many of the same components for multiple trim levels of the same vehicle. The HealthyCar.org rating can be considered a general indication of the relative level of concern of most trim levels available for that particular vehicle. The components most likely to change between trim levels and affect the ratings are the seating materials, the steering wheel and the shift knob covers. Soft materials on the door trim or dashboard (i.e., fabric or leather) may also change between trim levels. In addition, components may contain different compounds depending on their color.
Are older vehicles safer then newer vehicles?
This study did not compare older versus newer vehicles. In general, however, the concentration of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) declines over time. A recent study in Japan tested 101 new cars(< less than 3 years old) and found that all had total VOC levels that were on average double guideline value of 300 ug/m3 that was established as a threshold for health risks. Maximum concentration were over 13 times the guideline value. The same study also found that levels of total VOCs often decrease by ten-fold within a few months after manufacture. For more information, see the full Japanese study.
Other chemicals of concern, like the heavy metals and flame retardants that we tested for, may be released at steady or higher rates over time, as materials containing them begin to breakdown. In addition, older vehicles may contain chemicals that have been phased out or banned. For example, automakers stopped using pentaBDE and octaBDE flame retardants in recent years, but these chemicals are likely present in many older vehicles.
Are cloth seats better than leather seats?
In general, vehicles with leather seats are often associated with higher VOC and chemical levels. We cannot attribute this to the leather seats alone though. It is likely that other features that are associated with upgraded trim packages, such as leather steering wheel, more electronics, different carpets and body trim panels, all contribute to these higher chemical levels in cars with leather seats. In addition, HealthyCar.org testing found that most "leather" seats use vinyl on the sides and back of the seats, instead of leather. It usually cannot be detected by consumers, since the vinyl looks exactly like leather. Vinyl contains VOCs called phthalates that off-gas significantly and are associated with many health effects. So, overall, cloth seats are likely the healthier choice. For more information about vinyl, visit our chlorine page.
What if I have an older vehicle than the one tested (i.e., I have a 2002 Toyota Camry, but you tested a 2006 Toyota Camry)?
Results of the HealthyCar.org testing only apply to the specific model year listed for each vehicle. Suppliers and material formulations change over time and therefore we do not recommend making any conclusions about the chemical content of older vehicles based on the tests of newer vehicles.
How do the materials in my car affect air quality?
Plastic vehicle components contain chemicals that are added during the production process to impart specific properties, such as rigidity, durability or flame resistance. Many of these chemicals are not chemically bound to the plastic and are consequently released into the environment during the life of the product. This is often referred to as “off-gassing” and evidence of this is sometimes present as a window film or “fogging” that develops on the inside of the windshield. Heat and UV-ray exposure can accelerate this process and may also cause chemicals to break down into even more toxic compounds.
In other cases, part of a plastic or fabric component can turn into dust when the component is abraded during normal vehicle use. For example, if an arm frequently rests on the side door trim panel, it can cause abrasion over the life of the vehicle.
Through dust and air, these chemicals are inhaled or ingested by drivers and passengers causing acute reactions in some people and possible long-term health impacts, such as reproductive problems, developmental problems and cancer. For more information on heath effects, visit our Chemicals of Concern page.
Where can I find out more information about the new car smell and toxic chemicals in cars?
Several studies have documented the chemicals contained in the new car smell and their possible health effects. Visit our Resources page for more information.
Why didn’t you test for other harmful chemicals that are contained in vehicles?
While there are numerous substances in vehicles that can lead to health and environmental problems, HealthyCar.org focused on elements and the related toxic compounds that are easy to identify using non-destructive methods. Vehicles were analyzed with a portable X-ray Fluorescence device that detected elemental composition of the materials.
We tested for a variety of substances, including heavy metals, common allergens, tin compounds, PVC and brominated flame retardants. These substances are considered to be characteristic chemicals in vehicles where plastics, rubber and other resins are extensively used. At the same time, the use of plastics, rubber and other resins also indicates the presence of high total volatile organic compound (VOC) levels, according to researchers in Japan. Thus, the presence of the key hazardous chemicals we tested for also indicates the likely presence of other VOCs and overall poor air quality in the vehicle. For more information, see the full Japanese study.
In addition, the substances we tested for have also been targeted by organizations that set voluntary vehicle standards for air quality and allergen-free products, such as TUV Rheinland Group’s TOXPROOF Certification and the Oeko-Tex Standard 100. More information about these Eco-label standard standards is available on the resources page.
Have a question that wasn’t answered here?
Submit a question to us directly.
For a detailed description of the HealthyCar.org vehicle rating system and methodology, download the full report.
www.HealthyCar.org is a project of the Ecology Center, a nonprofit organization.
For more information, visit www.EcoCenter.org
Please submit questions to moreinfo@HealthyCar.org