PT Cruiser is one of the 10 least toxic vehicles

[robinjoe]

Some good news from:United Press International - NewsTrack - Science - New car smell is bad for you

That "new car smell" can be hazardous to your health, The Ecology Center, a Berkeley, Calif., environmental group said.

The Ecology Center said toxic chemicals such as bromine, chlorine and lead found in cars' interiors give off harmful fumes for three years, the Chicago Tribune reported.

The group listed the 10 least toxic vehicles in a report: the Acura RDX; BMW X3; Chevrolet Cobalt; Chrysler PT Cruiser; Honda Odyssey; Nissan Frontier; Suzuki Aerio wagon; Toyota Matrix; and Volvo S40 and V50.

The 10 worst vehicles were: the Chevy Aveo, Express and Silverado; Hyundai Accent; Kio Rio and Spectra; Nissan Versa; Scion xB; Subaru Forester; and Suzuki Forenza.

Jeff Gearhart of the Ecology Center said consumers can avoid the fumes, which are emitted when the car's interior is exposed to heat.

"Don't park in the sun, and if you do, use a solar screen along the windshield to reduce heat getting into the cabin. And before driving on a warm day, first open the windows and doors to ventilate the car for 10 minutes," Gearhart told the newspaper. "Also, clean the cabin frequently by vacuuming and washing the windows because the greasy film on the inside windows is residue from the chemicals."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

United Press International - NewsTrack - Science - New car smell is bad for you

[CREWZIN]

The good news is: we just traded in our Suzuki Forenza. The bad news is: we had it for two years, just enough to absorb all the chemicals so someone else can have a safe car.

[bobs turbo pt]

darn it and i love that new car smell lol

[skylight]

Hehehe... PT Cruiser is one of the 10 least toxic new vehicles.
Actually i like new car smell... didnt know it could be toxic ...

[Hooligan]

...toxic to the wallet, actually that could be an indication of a HABIT!!!

[bobs turbo pt]

i love that smell !!

[fritz_t_coyote]

Of course the Ecology Freaks will also tell you that all cars are evil.

Is anyone THAT FRAGGING SENSITIVE to a few chemicals in the air? How did they survive this long?

Besides, it has been a while since the glory days of Japanese and German cars with gunked-up windows from the outgassings of the variouse plastics.
(mostly evident in well built little cars because they actually sealed up pretty tight, and traveled a long way sealed up).

[thegoldpt]

I luv new car smell! Oh well. At least I enjoyed inhaling all of those toxic chems...

[distortedlife]

To think that I bought used cars all of my life and now that I get a NEW one, the interior smell could kill me....OH C'MON!!!