Sustain Traders Oceania

Artice supplied by Ingo Schomacker from Pure Bamboo

Is that new – car smell rewarding you every time you slide behind the wheel of your brand new vehicle? Smell that seductive scent of fresh plastic, paint and upholstery that evokes a rush of pride. Proudly you recognize everything is still so shiny and spotless and you take a satisfied deep breath. That smell could also make you – and your passengers – sick!
Studies in Australia have shown that far from being pleasant, those odours can be toxic. High level amounts of air toxic emissions have been found in new motor vehicles for six months and longer after they leave the showroom. The textiles and plastics in vehicle interiors contain a large number of harmful chemicals such as benzene, acetone, chlorine, lead &bromine.These chemicals may contribute to a variety of acute and long-term health issues such as birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity, and cancer. Not only are you as a driver exposed to these toxins by breathing, but frequent exposure to the sun's heat and ultraviolet light can increase interior levels of these chemicals and possibly exacerbate their toxicity. This is still happening also in older cars !
Your child with its systems still developing, is most vulnerable to such exposure.
The visible evidence of chemicals being released into interiors, is the film that sometimes appears on the inside of windshields, known as "fogging." This phenomenon occurs when toxins in the materials of the interior evaporate and then condense on the windshield or windows. This process happens over time, but accelerates in high temperatures.

for more information head to www.purebamboo.com.au