Healthy cars

Also known as bikes

Posted by Sarah van Schagen at 6:43 AM on 20 Mar 2007

Read more about: green living | cars | health | toxics

car interior Is your car safe?

I'm not talking seat belts and air bags. Nope, I'm asking about that new-car smell. Take a big whiff, and ask yourself again: Is your car safe?

What you smell may be part of a toxic soup of chemicals off-gassing from parts like the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, and seat. These chemicals can include bromine, chlorine, lead, and other toxins that contribute to a litany of health problems ranging from decreased fertility to liver, kidney, thyroid, and brain damage.

So how do you know whether your car is making you sick? The folks at HealthyCar.org, a new website launching today, are lookin' out for you. They've tested over 200 of the most popular 2006-2007 model vehicles using fancy-pants technology (a portable X-Ray Fluorescence device!).

Below, a handy-dandy chart of the 10 best and worst models. Don't see your car? Search by model on the HealthyCar website, then take action to reduce your exposure and tell the automakers you want a safer vehicle.

best and worst chart

For story: Healthy cars
5 Comments | Post a Comment

Thar's gold in them hills

Who will be the first automaker that markets a vehicle partly on the basis of a toxin-free interior design?

by Steven T at 7:40 AM on 20 Mar 2007

Bedrock Motors...been there, done that.

Wasn't the Flinstones' car organic and pretty toxic free? Even with those vegetarian McRibs on the roof?

NoPunProductions.com ~ AmericaTheGreen.org

by Greta at 8:18 AM on 20 Mar 2007

Boy, that gun sure is tacky looking ...

Um, can I ask what this has to do with the environment? Cars are destroying the world and we're going to worry about the drivers being exposed to the toxic outgassing from the chemicals used in the interiors?

I have an idea--let's require that the exhaust from the engine (whatever it happens to be) be ported into the interior of all private autos. (End of CAFE standards debate!)

Kinda makes the interior offgassing less of a problem, eh?

There IS NO SUCH THING AS A HEALTHY CAR. You'd think a site like Grist would get that.

The 5% Project

by JMG at 8:34 AM on 20 Mar 2007

Re: tailpipe feedback

JMG, great idea. And while we're at it:

In the emissionless vehicles that result, prohibit seat belts and air bags for the driver's seat. That'll slow down the smart ones and get posthumous Darwin Awards for the rest - make our streets far safer.

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.

by spaceshaper at 9:05 AM on 20 Mar 2007
[ Parent ]

You want it all

<< toxic soup of chemicals >>

They are everywhere, even in your home, in your food, air and water..... y'all are a toxic soup in a bag.

Well that's what you asked for and that is exactly what you got.

BUT why are you them so greedy that you want to destroy the world as well.

Are you jealous if someone else has nothing, but is actually healthy and actually has all they ever need.

Yea, give the kids BOMB BOMBS.

by Zarkov at 3:19 PM on 20 Mar 2007

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