Potential carcinogens detected in air inside cars, study finds
Potential carcinogens detected in air inside cars, study finds Medical News Today
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Study Finds Flame Retardants in Car Interiors
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
Introduction
- Most cars in the United States use flame retardants in several areas of the vehicle cabin based on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 302.
- Previous studies have linked exposure to certain flame retardants with health concerns such as neurological issues, hormone disruption, and cancer-related death.
- Researchers from Duke University and the Green Science Policy Institute have found that the air inside the cabins of some model year 2015 or newer cars is polluted with flame retardants.
- Scientists also discovered air flame retardant levels were two to five times higher in vehicle cabins in the summer compared to winter.
Flame Retardants in Car Interiors
In the United States, most cars use flame retardants within seat foams and coverings and other areas of vehicle cabins, based on the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 302.
Previous studies have linked exposure to certain flame retardants with health concerns such as neurological issues, hormone disruption, and cancer-related death.
A new study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has found that the air inside the cabins of some model year 2015 or newer cars is polluted with flame retardants.
The researchers from Duke University and the Green Science Policy Institute also discovered air flame retardant levels were two to five times higher in vehicle cabins in the summer compared to winter.
Methodology
- For this study, researchers recruited 101 U.S. citizens owning a car with a model year of 2015 or newer to hang a silicone passive sampler on their rearview mirror for seven days.
- A silicon passive sampler can be used to measure different types of pollutants in the air, including brominated and organophosphate flame retardants.
- Scientists reported that organophosphate esters (OPEs) were the most frequently detected fire retardant collected by the silicone passive samplers.
Findings
Of OPEs, tris(1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) had a 99% detection frequency with in-cabin air measurements ranging from 0.2 to 11,600 ng/g of sampler.
Stapleton and her team also found that TCIPP was the dominant fire retardant discovered in car seat foam.
“New data suggest that TCIPP may also be carcinogenic. Some recent epidemiology and toxicology studies also suggest TCIPP may be neurotoxic at high exposures, and impact thyroid hormone regulation.”
– Heather M. Stapleton, PhD
About half of the cars included in the study were tested both during the summer and winter.
Researchers reported that sampler fire retardant concentrations within vehicle cabins were two to five times higher in the summer than in the winter.
They also found that the presence of TCIPP in foam resulted in about four times higher average air sampler concentrations in winter and almost nine times higher during the summer months.
Stapleton explained:
“Chemicals are emitted from plastics at higher rates with higher temperatures. Therefore, levels of these chemicals in the cabin air of a vehicle will be higher in cars parked or residing in warm areas of the country vs cars in colder parts of the country. And people entering these cars will be breathing in this air with higher concentrations of flame retardants and receiving higher exposures.”
Implications and Recommendations
To help protect drivers and passengers from the potential of flame retardant exposure in vehicle cabins, Stapleton said ventilating your car, particularly during hot summer months, is very important.
“And if possible, park your car in the shade or use a sun visor to minimize the car interior temperature during the day,” she continued. “I also recommend that people open the car windows and ventilate the air before getting into the car to drive. If you have an automatic starter, it would be best to start the car for a few minutes before driving and put the air conditioner on to cool the interior temperature.”
MNT also spoke with Douglas A. Miller, MD, radiation oncologist and medical director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, about this study.
“Many vehicles also allow the ability to recirculate air within or utilize outside air when heating/cooling,” Miller offered as another tip. “For people wishing to maximally reduce potential exposure, consider avoiding use of the recirculating air feature.”
“(This) research … raises awareness of potential environmental exposures of compounds that may be harmful to humans,” he continued. “In clinical practice, environmental exposures and their absolute risks for cancer development remain challenging to sharply define for the entire population, but this study is an important first step to identify potential exposures and mitigate risk.”
“Given the millions of people (who) drive or travel in vehicles across the country on a daily basis, we statistically may find cases where environmental exposure from chemical retardants may induce a malignancy,” Miller added. “Moving forward, I would like to see research into (the) modernization of the regulations regarding the material requirements in vehicles and develop alternative materials which do not contain (potentially) harmful compounds.”
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | Indicator: Detection of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their potential health effects. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | Indicator: Presence and levels of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their impact on air quality. |
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
The article discusses the potential health concerns associated with exposure to flame retardants in vehicle cabins, including neurological issues, hormone disruption, and cancer-related death. SDG 3 aims to ensure good health and well-being for all, and reducing exposure to hazardous chemicals is a key component of this goal.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
The article highlights the use of flame retardants in cars, which contributes to chemical pollution and contamination. SDG 12 focuses on promoting responsible consumption and production patterns, including the environmentally sound management of chemicals and reducing their release into the environment.
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
The article addresses the potential health risks associated with exposure to flame retardants in vehicle cabins, which aligns with Target 3.9 of SDG 3.
Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
The article highlights the presence of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their impact on air quality, which relates to Target 12.4 of SDG 12.
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
The article mentions the detection of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their potential health effects as indicators of progress towards reducing deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals (Target 3.9). Additionally, the presence and levels of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their impact on air quality can serve as indicators for achieving the environmentally sound management of chemicals (Target 12.4).
4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. | Indicator: Detection of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their potential health effects. |
| SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production | Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water, and soil to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment. | Indicator: Presence and levels of flame retardants in vehicle cabins and their impact on air quality. |
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Fuente: medicalnewstoday.com
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