August 25, 200916 yr Ever since I was a kid I've always hated the "new car smell" because it makes me nauseous. Just thinking about it makes me feel funny, and I have a hard time being the passenger in a car where this odor is pronounced. It's not as bad if I am behind the wheel, fortunately. Older cars do not have this smell, in part because I don't think the same chemicals were used in their construction back then, and in part because of time. Until recently, older cars is all I had owned... so when I purchased a '93 Legacy this month, which is far from "new," I didn't think there would be an issue. To my surprise, the moment I opened the door I was hit with a strong odor that started to make me feel a little nauseous. Funny how that smell doesn't seem to go away even after 15+ years! After doing some research, I found two good articles that explain the reason for this odor. From Chemical & Engineering News... NEW CAR SMELL: VOCs account for the characteristic "newness" From the San Francisco Chronicle... Factory Air One particular important bit of information I found was that VOC concentration peaks when the car heats up with windows closed, but once you open the doors will dissipate quickly. That's good news. Even so, while there are a lot of articles talking about the problems with chemicals inside the cabin, none of them offer any solutions other than letting it air out for a few minutes. Fortunately there do appear to be some solutions available. The first being an ionic air purifier which does appear to at least reduce the smell (according to this article: link), and therefore the VOC concentration, available from Brookstone (link). The other is a gel that absorbs airborne allergens and chemicals, apparently used in buildings as well as cars, called Bad Air Sponge (link). Neither of these has undergone the testing that provides the origianl VOC data, however. Prices for these products are low enough to make them worth considering though. If anyone has additional ideas about how to neutralize these odors, I would be glad to hear about them. You would think that there might be a product for washing the interior with which accomplish this to some degree. Especially for the foam in the seats, which I think is a major contributor to this odor.
August 25, 200916 yr The best way to deal with the problem is probably ''air exchange'' -- that is, ventilate. Open all the doors of the car before entering it for as long as it takes for the smell to mostly dissipate. Unfortunately, once the VOCs are no longer annoying (because they've mostly already been exuded), the plastics in your car will likely become brittle, possibly cracking and otherwise falling apart. Maybe the manufacturers can be convinced to to add a charcoal canister to the car interior, and purge it by connection to the EVAP system. Might even improve gas mileage. ;)
August 25, 200916 yr Author Indeed . But yes, ventilation is the best option for now. I prefer driving with the windows down anyway... and I might get that ionic purifier maybe. The B.A.S. might be a good option to just leave in the car though and let it absorb the crap.
August 25, 200916 yr The Government should perhaps conduct a study of health effects of "new car smell" to determine if it is a health hazard, and if so, make manufacturers change the materials they use to produce cars. They are making cars with recycled toxins perhaps, and the air polluting part of the toxins cannot be good for people. A related note is when ever I have purchased new mattresses/bedding, its the same, or new carpet, same. The smell is intoxicating to me and my allergies.
August 25, 200916 yr The Government should perhaps conduct a study of health effects of "new car smell" to determine if it is a health hazard, and if so, make manufacturers change the materials they use to produce cars. They are making cars with recycled toxins perhaps, and the air polluting part of the toxins cannot be good for people. Some agency did a study not long ago IIRC that determined the "new car smell" to be detrimental to the mental health of newborn children. Not sure if there were any physical illnesses attributed to it, but I'm sure that if it isn't good for children, it's just as bad for adults, though the effects may not be as acute. Usually I don't mind the smell, but on some new vehicles it's just overwhelmingly strong, even with the windows down.
August 25, 200916 yr hmm might explain why when i was younger i would have issues with dizzyness and such like you. As i got older and the 93 l got older stopped having the problem but i miss the smell regardless lol.
August 25, 200916 yr Author If you read the above linked articles you will find that there have been studies done. The VOCs found in cars, many of them anyway, are carcinogens. Some have been linked to developmental problems in children. Either way you look at it, they do have detrimental effects on the nervous and immune system. Phthalates for instance are a known carcinogen... Interestingly, European car manufacturers have already been producing cars without these chemicals, as have been Japanese auto makers. At least in those markets... Ericem, yes I first noticed it in my family's Audi back in the early '90s. I would always get car sick, which was significantly aggravated by the smell.
August 25, 200916 yr I am highly sensitive to VOC's. Only way to "insulate" against the off gassing of VOC's is to paint with a special paint. But I do not see anyone painting the interior of their car!!! Only way to get the VOC's to off-gas fast is to heat up the materials to 90-100 degrees for 24 hours at a time. Open it up after each "cycle" to allow the gases out of the area (in this case a car). Then once you have pretty much gotten rid of the smell aspect, "cleanse" the interior by running an "ozone machine" in the car. WARNING!!! Do NOT use in an enclosed area where animals or humans would be breathing the resulting air!!! Ozone machines can be great also for getting rid of smoker's smell in a car or house!! My family purchased two small machines (size of a computer printer) about 10 years ago. When we need them, we have them to use. They are a GREAT investment!!
August 25, 200916 yr Author I know how you feel ... I have a hard time riding is vehicles that are only a few years old, not to mention brand new ones! What's the difference between an ozone machine and an ionic purifier? EDIT: Never mind, found the answer . Edited August 25, 200916 yr by mentis
August 25, 200916 yr Author Cowgirl, there is a lengthy EPA article on the effects of ozone... http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html It says much about the ill effects of ozone, and little about it's positive effects, and that "available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants." Furthermore, Ozone has been extensively used for water purification, but ozone chemistry in water is not the same as ozone chemistry in air. High concentrations of ozone in air, when people are not present, are sometimes used to help decontaminate an unoccupied space from certain chemical or biological contaminants or odors (e.g., fire restoration). However, little is known about the chemical by-products left behind by these processes (Dunston and Spivak, 1997). While high concentrations of ozone in air may sometimes be appropriate in these circumstances, conditions should be sufficiently controlled to insure that no person or pet becomes exposed. Ozone can adversely affect indoor plants, and damage materials such as rubber, electrical wire coatings, and fabrics and art work containing susceptible dyes and pigments (U.S. EPA, 1996a).
August 25, 200916 yr Buy a 1960 - 1966 Chevrolet or GMC 1/2 3/4 or 1 ton. The best smelling interiors of all time. The 1967 - 1972 series wasn't bad either, but, just not as good as the 60 - 66. Problem solved.
August 25, 200916 yr I don't think you have 'new car smell', I think someone cleaned and armoralled the crap out of the interior. My '03 used from the dealer took about 2 weeks to be 'livable' from all the crap they sprayed inside that thing. Dave
August 26, 200916 yr Author I don't think you have 'new car smell', I think someone cleaned and armoralled the crap out of the interior. My '03 used from the dealer took about 2 weeks to be 'livable' from all the crap they sprayed inside that thing. Dave That's a good possibility . I read that there are fragrances you can spray into a car to maintain that "new car smell." So it's possible that it could have been cleaned in this way. But it does smell the same as just about every other car out there...
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