The scent¹ of a new car can be enticing² in showrooms, and even intoxicating³ in its appeal. There’s a good reason for that. That new car smell comes from an assortment⁵ of chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic⁴.

 

展厅中的新车会散发出迷人的气味，甚至令人陶醉。这种“醉人”的味道不是白来的，而是来自多种化学产品的混合物，其中一些还具有很高的毒性。

 

The source of the bouquet⁶ so many buyers find appealing is in the various solvents⁷, adhesives⁸, plastics, rubbers and fabrics⁹ used in car construction. Many of these contain volatile¹⁰ organic compounds (VOCs), some of which can be deadly in sufficient quantities. Others are just bad for you.

 

Just reading a list of the substances is scary enough, and makes your car's interior sound like a hazmat hall of fame. Benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and heavy metals are all part of the mix. And the danger of exposure is scarier still. Immediate¹¹ symptoms can range from a sore throat to headaches, dizziness, allergic¹² reactions and nausea¹³, depending on the sensitivity of an individual.

 

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, continued exposure to some of these can lead to hormonal¹⁴ disruption, reproductive impacts and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system -- or even cancer. It's that long-term exposure that experts find most worrisome.

 

The danger is greatest when the car is new, and that new car smell is most noticeable. This is when components¹⁵ are still unstable¹⁶ and prone¹⁷ to what is called off-gassing -- the release of chemical vapours, which leads to the odour. Heat from a vehicle left in the sun can make matters worse, and speed up the chemical reaction. The danger is reduced over time, and experts say the worst is usually over within about six months.

 

Experts advise the best thing that buyers can do to limit exposure is to keep car interiors well ventilated, especially during the first six months of ownership. Park in the shade with the windows open when it's safe to do so, or at least try to air it out before getting inside -- especially on hot days.

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