Cancer-Causing Car Chemicals? Vehicles Found To Contain Flame Retardants Considered Potential Carcinogens, Study Reveals

A new study has discovered that the air within the cabin of some 2015 model or newer cars is full of flame retardants.

Flame Retardants in Cars

Across the US, most cars use flame retardants within seat covering foams and other vehicle cabin areas. This is based on the FMVSS 302 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.

Earlier studies have associated particular flame retardant exposures with health issues, such as hormone disruption, cancer-related death, and neurological problems.

In the new study, "Flame Retardant Exposure in Vehicles Is Influenced by Use in Seat Foam and Temperature," researchers from Duke University and the Green Science Policy Institute found that the levels of air flame retardants in vehicle cabins during summer were roughly two to five times higher than in winter.

To investigate further, the researchers recruited 101 US citizens who owned cars in the model year 2015 or newer. For seven days, a silicone passive sampler was added to the rearview mirror of their cars. This device can measure various air pollutants, such as organophosphate and brominated flame retardants.

According to the scientists, OPEs (organophosphate esters) were among the most frequently detected ones gathered by the devices. Heather M. Stapleton, PhD, a Ronie-Richele Garcia-Johnson Distinguished Professor from Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment, shares that OPEs are used more as plasticizers and flame retardants for various materials.

The interiors of cars typically contain a considerable proportion of plastic components, which is likely the OPE source. These may include the roof lining's interior foam, electronics within the dashboards, the seats, and more.

She adds that the more plastics surrounding people daily, the higher the chemical exposure. This is particularly true in the interior of the car, where the space is quite smaller compared to a building or home.

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Potential Carcinogens

Among the OPEs, TCIPP, or tris(1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate, had a frequency detection of 99% within in-cabin air measurements ranging from 0.2 to 11,600 ng/g of the sampler. The team of Stapleton also discovered that TCIPP was the most dominant fire retardant found in the form of the car seat.

Stapleton explains that TCIPP is a flame retardant of chlorinated organophosphate extensively used in furniture, building insulation, and textiles. Its usage has been increasing after the phase-out of TDCIPP, a close chemical cousin of TCIPP that is thought to be a potential human carcinogen.

Now, Stapleton notes that new data suggests that TCIPP could also be cancerous. Some studies on toxicology and epidemiology also show that TCIPP could be neurotoxic at high exposures. The chemical may also affect the regulation of the thyroid hormone.

Roughly half of the cars in the study were tested in summer and winter. In addition to discovering the level comparisons of flame retardant concentrations during the two seasons, the researchers also discovered that TCIPP presence within foam led to air sample concentrations that were four times higher than average during winter and nearly nine times higher during summer.

Stapleton notes that plastic emits more chemicals when temperatures rise. Hence, the chemical levels in a vehicle's cabin will be higher in parked cars or cars that reside in warm regions of the country compared to vehicles in colder areas of the country. Moreover, people inside these cars will inhale air with higher flame retardant concentrations, resulting in higher exposure levels.

The professor adds that it is important to remember that such chemicals do not stop material from burning. They just slow the rate of burning. Therefore, it is crucial to address fire safety with various approaches and technologies.

Stapleton suggests ventilating the car, especially during summer, to protect passengers and drivers from flame retardant exposure potential within the cabins. Moreover, it is also recommended to park the car under the shade or use a sun visor to minimize the temperature of the car's interior during the day. Stapleton also advises opening the windows and ventilating the air before letting people enter the vehicle. For individuals with automatic starters, it is better to start the car a few minutes before driving and cool the interior with air conditioning.