A recent study in Environmental Science & Technology reveals concerning findings on car air quality, with drivers and passengers potentially exposed to cancer-causing chemicals. Across 30 states, researchers examined cabin air from 101 electric, gas, and hybrid vehicles spanning model years 2015 to 2022. Alarmingly, 99% of the cars tested positive for TCIPP, a flame retardant under investigation for its potential carcinogenic properties by the US National Toxicology Program. Additionally, most vehicles also contained two more carcinogenic flame retardants, TDCIPP and TCEP.
Lead researcher Rebecca Hoehn, a toxicology scientist at Duke University, stressed the importance of the findings, noting, "With the average driver spending about an hour in the car daily, this poses a significant public health concern." She highlighted the heightened risk for individuals with longer commutes and child passengers, who inhale at higher rates. The study found elevated levels of hazardous flame retardants during summer, attributed to increased chemical release from car materials due to heat.
Researchers identified seat foam as the primary source of cancer-causing compounds in the cabin air. Flame retardants, added to meet safety standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the 1970s, remain unchanged despite advances, raising concerns about outdated regulations.
Patrick Morrison, from the International Association of Fire Fighters, voiced worry over flame retardants worsening firefighters' cancer rates. He urged the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to revise flammability standards, eliminating the need for these chemicals in vehicles.
