Every time you slide into the driver’s seat, you may be inhaling a toxic cocktail of cancer-causing chemicals. Cars tested in the summer had higher concentrations of these chemicals due to increased off-gassing from seat foam at higher temperatures. A parked car can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit within an hour on a sunny day.
The results were “remarkably consistent” and policy-relevant, showing that manufacturers use these chemicals across various vehicle models, she said. Federal law requires the interiors of vehicles to contain flame retardants or other chemicals that make them less likely to catch fire after a crash. These flame retardants have been mandated for use in modern cars since 1971, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) passed a law enforcing their inclusion.
Another law enforcing their use in child car seats was passed in 1981. However, while some other transportation industry standards, including those for aircraft and rail, have been adapted over time with the advent of newer flammability protections, the law regulating cars (FMVSS No. 302) has remained mostly unchanged since 1972.
The study likely underestimated the exposure, as it did not account for particle-phase flame retardants or dermal exposure. The study also did not account for flame retardants present in vehicle dust, which could be ingested and serve as another source of exposure. Most flame retardants are associated with cancer, brain damage, developmental problems, .
