How can your car give you cancer?

New research has warned that a person can inhale cancer-causing chemicals when in their car.

Scientists say motorists are at risk of inhaling potential carcinogens, because the air inside almost all vehicles is “polluted” with harmful flame retardants, including those known or suspected to cause cancer.

Automakers are adding foam and other chemicals to seats to meet an "outdated" flammability standard without any proven benefit for fire safety, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Lead author, Dr Rebecca Hone, from Duke University, said: “Our research found that interior materials release harmful chemicals into the car cabin air. Given that the average driver spends about an hour in the car every day, this is important for public health. It is a problem.” "This is particularly concerning for drivers traveling longer distances as well as child passengers who breathe in more air than adults."

The team discovered flame retardants inside the cabins of 101 electric, gas and hybrid vehicles, model year 2015 or newer, from across the United States.

They found that 99% of cars contained TCIPP phosphate, a flame retardant under investigation by the US National Toxicology Program as a possible carcinogen.

Most cars also contain organophosphate ester flame retardants, including TDCIPP phosphate, TCEP phosphate, and two carcinogens listed in California's Proposition 65 (a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity). Scientists say these and other flame retardants are linked to neurological and reproductive damage.

About half of the cars were tested in summer and winter. Warmer weather has been associated with increased concentrations of flame retardants because "outgassing" of interior components such as seat foam increases due to higher temperatures. 

They found that cars containing the suspected carcinogen TCIPP in their foam tended to have higher concentrations of this substance in the air, confirming that the foam was a source of flame retardants in the cabin air.

 Previous studies have shown that the average child loses between three and five points in IQ as a result of exposure to a flame retardant used in cars and furniture. A recent research paper also estimated that those with the highest levels of flame retardants in their blood had about four times the risk of dying from cancer compared to those with the lowest levels.

Study co-author Dr Lydia Gall, from the Green Science Policy Institute, said: “You may be able to reduce your exposure to flame retardants in your car by opening windows and parking in the shade. But what we really need is to reduce the amount of flame retardants being added to cars.” in the first place".

“Commuting to work should not lead to a cancer risk, and children should not breathe in chemicals that can harm their brains on their way to school,” she added.