Admit it: you absolutely love the smell of your new car as you’re driving off the lot. Scientists haven’t figured out why everyone loves the smell of a new car so much—maybe it’s because people associate the smell with the luxury of having purchased a new set of wheels. But the smell that comes along with your new ride is actually really toxic and can be harmful to your health.
Robert Weitz, a certified microbial investigator and founder of RTK Environmental Group, says that the new car scent you’re smelling is actually made up of something called volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. The new car smell occurs when the various materials that make up your car “outgas” and release VOCs.
The materials used in the interior of a new car include polyurethane or polyester and various paints, plastics, and sealants. The VOC molecules released from these materials do eventually evaporate, but in the beginning, they are very harmful to humans, especially in a confined space.
15 PHOTOS15 safest cars money can buy for 2018See Gallery15 safest cars money can buy for 2018
The 2018 Kia Forte
The 2018 Kia Soul
The 2018 Subaru Impreza
The 2018 Subaru WRX
The 2018 Subaru Legacy
The 2018 Subaru Outback
The 2018 Toyota Camry
The 2018 BMW 5-Series
(Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
The 2018 Genesis G80
(Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The 2018 Genesis G90
The 2018 Lincoln Continental
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E Class sedan
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe
The 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
The 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLC
See Gallery
“There are many VOCs that cause cancer (carcinogens) and most will produce symptoms in many individuals including respiratory, headaches, and joint and muscle pain. We are all built differently and the VOCs have different effects on all of us,” says Weitz.
As the new car smell fades over time, so do the VOCs—but on warm days, the materials can start to “outgas” again. One way to combat the issue is to keep your windows open when you can and don’t inhale as deeply every time you get into your new car.
Next, don’t miss these 74 car maintenance tips that will extend the life of the new ride you just bought.
[Source: howstuffworks.com]
The post The Scary Truth Behind That New Car Smell appeared first on Reader’s Digest.
Source: Read Full Article