A recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that the air inside some model year 2015 or newer cars is polluted with flame retardants. Researchers from Duke University and the Green Science Policy Institute discovered that air flame retardant levels were two to five times higher in vehicle cabins during the summer compared to winter. Flame retardants are commonly used in vehicle cabins in the United States based on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard FMVSS 302. Exposure to certain flame retardants has been linked to health concerns such as neurological issues, hormone disruption, and cancer-related death.
Organophosphate esters (OPEs) were the most frequently detected fire retardants collected by silicone passive samplers used in the study. OPEs are used as flame retardants and plasticizers in various materials and are commonly found in car interiors, such as foam in the interior roof lining and seats. Tris(1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP) was the dominant fire retardant discovered in car seat foam, with in-cabin air measurements ranging from 0.2 to 11,600 ng/g of sampler. TCIPP has been used extensively in textiles, building insulation, and furniture, and recent studies have suggested it may be carcinogenic and neurotoxic at high exposures.
Research conducted by Stapleton and her team found that flame retardant concentrations within vehicle cabins were two to five times higher in the summer compared to winter. TCIPP in foam resulted in about four times higher average air sampler concentrations in winter and almost nine times higher during the summer months. Chemicals emitted from plastics at higher rates with higher temperatures, leading to higher levels of flame retardants in the cabin air of vehicles parked or residing in warm areas of the country. Stapleton emphasized the importance of addressing fire safety with different technologies and approaches to reduce the potential risks associated with flame retardant exposure in vehicle cabins.
To protect against potential flame retardant exposure in vehicle cabins, it is recommended to ventilate the car, particularly during hot summer months, park in the shade or use a sun visor to minimize interior temperature, open windows and ventilate air before driving, and use the air conditioner to cool the interior temperature. Avoiding the use of the recirculating air feature in vehicles can also reduce potential exposure. Dr. Douglas A. Miller, medical director of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, stressed the importance of raising awareness of environmental exposures that may be harmful to human health. Moving forward, research on modernizing regulations regarding material requirements in vehicles and developing alternative materials free of potentially harmful compounds is essential.
