The average American spends nearly an hour a day commuting to work, a number that adds up quickly.
Now, research has found that car passengers from California can be exposed to levels above the appropriate amount of unhealthy chemicals during their daily work trips.
Estimating travel times from census data and using measurements of chemicals found in previous studies, the new study found that commissions longer than 20 minutes put people at risk of inappropriately high rates of two carcinogens used in the manufacture of automobiles.
At first glance, it may seem like disturbing news to people who spend a lot of time behind the wheel on day trips. But there are a lot of factors to play with, so let’s unpack it a bit.
The unique smell of a new car gives you a whiff of what’s going on here. In materials used to disassemble cars, from hard and soft plastics to adhesives, cloth and foam, there are some chemicals that can enter the air slowly (the term is technical ‘off-gas’) or going on dust.
“These chemicals are highly volatile, moving easily from plastic and textiles to the air you breathe,” said environmental expert David Volz of the University of California Riverside, who co-authored the study.
Volatile fertilizers can build up in small spaces, such as inside a car (unless you open a window for fresh air).
Although much research to date has focused on outdoor air pollution and its impact on health, and indoor environments, such as workplaces or homes where people spend their time. most of their days, this study suggests that chemicals picking up inside vehicles could be a cause for concern – for some drivers.
The study aimed to estimate when a person could be exposed to known carcinogens exceeding safe thresholds based on the length of time passengers entered their vehicles, and the levels of five chemicals found inside cars in previous studies.
The researchers estimated that the daily exposure of travelers to two out of five chemicals studied – benzene and formaldehyde – would be higher than levels considered by California health authorities to be safe or permitted. after 20 minutes. The appearance continued to go up as one traveled longer.
Both of these disturbing chemicals are not entirely unknown, but they certainly deserve attention. Benzene is found in rubbers and dyes, and formaldehyde is used in carpets and paints, both of which are included in California ‘s long 65 Proposition 65 carcinogen list. What is new here looks at the dangers that these chemicals can pose to drivers in particular.
“Our study raises concerns about the potential dangers of ingesting benzene and formaldehyde into people who spend a lot of time in their vehicles, an issue that is particularly relevant to congested areas. traffic where people travel farther, “the study ‘s authors wrote.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a higher proportion of people (over 1 in 10) had a higher chance of exceeding the cancer risk thresholds for benzene and formaldehyde on daily travel in surrounding areas Traffic-affected San Francisco and Los Angeles.
“Of course, there is an exposure range that depends on how long you are in the car, and how much fertilizer your car is spreading,” which may depend on the age of your car. vehicle and the surrounding temperature, said graduate student and study lead author Aalekhya Reddam, also from the University of California Riverside.
In other words, just because something is listed as a carcinogen does not necessarily mean that it will cause health problems – it depends on the dose that people are exposed to, and how often.
Even known carcinogens are less likely to cause cancer below certain levels, and limiting your exposure to harmful substances goes a long way to reducing the risk associated with it.
In addition, the negative health consequences seen among travelers – which include higher levels of cancer – could come from a combination of inactivity, obesity and shorter sleep patterns. often comes with long walks. These factors were not considered in this study.
However, some people do not have the option of traveling by car – or may be taxi drivers, who have jobs is to drive. To reduce the risk of being seen, more could be done during the car manufacturing process to replace chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde with less harmful alternatives, the researchers said.
“Given that people with long commissions are already a vulnerable sub-population, additional measures may need to be put in place to reduce the potential cancer risks associated with benzene and formaldehyde exposure. discount, ”the two wrote in their paper.
“There should be alternatives to these chemicals to achieve the same goals during vehicle manufacturing,” Volz said. “If so, those should be used.”
Improving access to public transport and cycle networks could also give people more options to get to work while at the same time adding some casual exercise to their travel and helping to reduce congested traffic congestion. construction of city roads.
The research was published in International Environment.