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       People Are Breathing In Cancer-Causing Chemicals In Their Cars, Study
       Finds
        
 (HTM) Source
        
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       Warmer weather was linked to higher flame retardant concentrations.
       (Representative pic)
        
       People are breathing in cancer-causing chemicals when they're in their
       car, a new research has found. For the study, published in
       Environmental Science & Technology, researchers analysed the cabin air
       of 101 electric, gas and hybrid cars with a model year between 2015
       and 2022. They found that 99% of cars contained a flame retardant
       called TCIPP, which is under investigation by the US National
       Toxicology Program as a potential carcinogen. Most cars also had two
       more flame retardants, TDCIPP and TCEP, which are considered
       carcinogenic. These flame retardants are linked to neurological and
       reproductive harms as well, scientists said.
        
       "Considering the average driver spends about an hour in the car every
       day, this is a significant public health issue," said Rebecca Hoehn,
       lead researcher and toxicology scientist at Duke University, according
       to _People_.
        
       "It's particularly concerning for drivers with longer commutes as well
       as child passengers, who breathe more air pound for pound than
       adults," she added.
        
       The study found that the levels of toxic flame retardants were highest
       in the summer as heat increases the release of chemicals from the car
       materials. The researchers said that the source of the cancer-causing
       compounds in the cabin air is seat foam. Car manufacturers add the
       chemicals to seat foam and other materials to meet an "outdated"
       flammability standard with no proven fire-safety benefit, they
       explained.
        
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       Patrick Morrison, director of health, safety and medicine for the
       International Association of Fire Fighters, said, "Firefighters are
       concerned that flame retardants contribute to their very high cancer
       rates. Filling products with these harmful chemicals does little to
       prevent fires for most uses and instead makes the blazes smokier and
       more toxic for victims, and especially for first responders".
        
       "I urge NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) to
       update their flammability standard to be met without flame retardant
       chemicals inside vehicles," he added.
        
       In the study, researchers also insisted that these toxic flame
       retardants serve no real benefit inside vehicles.
        
       Lydia Jahl, study author and senior scientist at the Green Science
       Policy Institute said people might be able to reduce their exposure to
       the toxic flame retardants by opening car windows and parking in the
       shade or in garages. "But what's really needed is reducing the amount
       of flame retardants being added to cars in the first place. Commuting
       to work shouldn't come with a cancer risk, and children shouldn't
       breathe in chemicals that can harm their brains on their way to
       school," she added.
        
        
        
        
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