Don't inhale that new car smell

[7/4]

Don't inhale that new car smell

Ah, that new car smell, that eau de car-logne; it does an ego good while it does a wallet bad. And now it turns out, it can do bad things to your health, too.

Air freshners can contain aldehydes, esters and ketones, industry spokesman says.

All these years, while we were being offered safety first, last and front, side and rear ways, hardly anyone in the vehicle industry had given much thought to what actually was in that perfume de profit, the new car smell that car buyers sought and bought.

As everyone knew, pollution related to vehicles originated from the exhaust pipe, not the shifter knob. It was spewed out the back of the rear, not the back of the rear view mirror. Well, what everyone thought they knew was wrong.

It turns out -- take a deep breath -- that most of that new car smell is not some carefully-compounded, luxury, feel-good incense to the Mammon gods. But the new car smell comes from toxic gases.

mo'

Edited August 1, 2008 by 7/4

[Willard]

oh wow i thought toxic gases produced in rubber application between seat and steering wheel

[BruceH]

So open the damn window when you're driving a new car.

[7/4]

No so easy in extreme weather!

If only I had a private garage when my car was new, I could have left the windows open..

[BFrank]

Guess I'll have to take it back.

DAMN!

[Quasimado]

Try circular breathing - it seems to work in similar situations ...

Q

[BruceH]

If it's raining out just open the air vents.

[catesta]

So, do new car sales people now have a shorter life expectancy and a greater risk of health problems?

What next? "Don't touch that avocado"! "That bottled water you drink so much of may be killing you"!

"car seats soon to be made of ice berg lettuce, story at 11"

How long does a car actually stay new anyways?

Rip a few farts and eat a lunch or two in the front seat, it will no longer smell new and problem solved.

Edited August 2, 2008 by catesta

[7/4]

How long does a car actually stay new anyways?

As long as it takes for the plastic to dry out and stop creating those gasses.

[Ted O'Reilly]

New car? What's that? I've never bought a new car. One of the world's stupidest purchases.

(Well, I did once, I guess. An orphan: a baby-poop-beige 1964 Ford Falcon -- found on the back lot of a dealer in February of 1965. NEVER considered it a NEW car, just undriven. It was made in '63 and had about 6 miles on the odometer. Paid $1800 bucks for it once they put in a new battery. Drove it for 11 years. )

[BruceH]

How long does a car actually stay new anyways?

As long as it takes for the plastic to dry out and stop creating those gasses.

Which is to say, a couple of weeks at the most.

[7/4]

years.

.

[Willard]

a pony and saddle made of hypoallergenic material might be better than new car

Edited August 2, 2008 by Willard

[Chuck Nessa]

a pony and saddle made of hypoallergenic material might be better than new car

Willard has a pony. :lol:

[7/4]

a pony and saddle made of hypoallergenic material might be better than new car

Willard has a pony. :lol:

[Willard]

yes I have miniature horse

http://www.flickr.com/photos/quareba/97268303/sizes/o/

Edited August 3, 2008 by Willard

[catesta]

years.

.

Doubt it.

[7/4]

years.

Doubt it.

My car still had a bit of that new car smell at 5 years.

Low mileage, sat out in the Sun in my parking lot all the time with the windows closed.

[BFrank]

get a 6-month supply of these - everything should be fine after that.

[catesta]

years.

Doubt it.

My car still had a bit of that new car smell at 5 years.

Low mileage, sat out in the Sun in my parking lot all the time with the windows closed.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Sounds like you don't spend enough time inside of it to be concerned. I wonder though, if your car still smells new after 5 years does that mean your at a higher risk then the guy who drives 5000 miles a month has a three month old car and it smells like dirty feet? Is he now in the clear because his car no longer smells new?

What if all I can smell in a new car is leather?

This "ecology center" has no long term study here. In fact their testing methods are already different from when they started in 2006. Plus, they're testing cars right on the dealer lot which more than likely have been driven less than an hour or two. Other factors to take into condsideration would be outside and inside temps.

I'm guessing test results in July would be much different than in January.

I would not be surprised if two of the the same model tested at the same dealer gave them different results.

To be taken more seriously they should be testing cars months after being purchased or even years.