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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><h1 style='line-height:19.5pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/299281/20120215/new-car-smell-toxic.htm<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 style='line-height:19.5pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:19.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>New-Car Smell: Find out How Toxic the Interior of Your New Car is<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:12.75pt;background:#F5F6F8'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=storyby><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>By <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/archives/articles/reporters/amir-khan/"><b><span style='color:#003366;text-transform:uppercase'>Amir Khan</span></b></a>: Subscribe to Amir's <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/rss/articles/reporters/amir-khan.rss"><b><span style='color:#EE7B15'>RSS feed</span></b></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=storyon style='line-height:12.75pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>February 15, 2012 3:18 PM EST<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Hop in a new 2012 Honda Civic and you'll be breathing easy; drive off a car lot in a 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander and you'll choke on toxic fumes, according to a new consumer's report that ranks pollution found in new car interiors.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:solid #F0F0F0 1.0pt;padding:8.0pt 8.0pt 8.0pt 8.0pt;background:white;margin-left:.25in;margin-right:7.5pt'><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:.25in;line-height:18.0pt;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo2;background:white;border:none;padding:0in'><a href="http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2012/02/15/233338-find-out-how-toxic-the-interior-of-your-new-car-is.jpg"><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=280 height=175 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CCED64.BF392E90" alt="(Photo: Honda)<br>Consumer advocates HealthyStuff.org released its fourth annual ranking of toxicity of new-car interiors that included over 200 vehicles produced in 2011-12. The nonprofit group gave the Honda Civic (shown) top rank while both Mitsubishi Outlander and the Chrysler 200 SC ranked the worst in interior pollution."></span></a><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:12.75pt;background:white'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";display:none'>Enlarge Close <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:15.6pt'><span lang=EN style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#666666;display:none'>(Photo: Honda)<br>Consumer advocates HealthyStuff.org released its fourth annual ranking of toxicity of new-car interiors that included over 200 vehicles produced in 2011-12. The nonprofit group gave the Honda Civic (shown) top rank while both Mitsubishi Outlander and the Chrysler 200 SC ranked the worst in interior pollution.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:13.5pt;background:#F4F4F4'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0><tr><td width=155 style='width:116.25pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td><td style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr><tr><td colspan=2 style='padding:0in 0in 0in 0in'></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Turns out that new-car smell can contain a toxic mix of chemicals that are left over from manufacturing seats, steering wheels, dashboards and armrests, according to consumer advocate <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.php"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>HealthyStuff.org</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The nonprofit group released its fourth annual ranking that included over 200 vehicles produced in 2011-12. The group gave the Civic top rank while both Outlander and the <span class=tpk><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/topics/detail/359/chrysler/"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>Chrysler</span></a></span> 200 SC ranked the worst for interior pollution.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The group tested for toxic heavy metals such as lead and mercury, and cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and brominated flame retardants. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>"Automobiles function as chemical reactors, creating one of the most hazardous environments we spend time in," Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Center, a non-profit organization in Ann Arbor, Mich. that runs HealthyStuff.org, said in a <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/press.releases.php" target="_blank"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>press release</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The use of these chemicals declined since 2006, but many cars still contain chemical levels that consumer advocates considered unsafe. Advocates also said that there exists no mandatory testing or regulation of the chemicals used in vehicle manufacturing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>"Consumers face a lack of information while they are car shopping," the authors states in a <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/press.releases.php" target="_blank"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>report </span></a>issued Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Joining the Civic in top ranking cars were the 2011 <span class=tpk><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/topics/detail/338/toyota/"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>Toyota</span></a></span> Prius and 2011 Honda CR-Z. The advocates included in the worst picks the Kia Soul.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Of all the chemicals the researchers looked for, they found the biggest decrease has been in the use of plastic made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which the study authors deemed the most toxic of all plastics.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>"During the production phase, workers at PVC facilities, as well as residents and wildlife in surrounding neighborhoods, may be exposed to the vinyl chloride monomer and/or dioxin, both of which are likely carcinogens," the study authors wrote. "PVC is not easily recycled from auto parts and therefore often ends up in landfills, where the chemicals can leach out and contaminate soil, water and wildlife."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>In individual cases, HealthyStuff.org authors explained what made the car interiors more toxic or safer.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>For example, the Civic used flame retardants that did not use bromine, a chemical that affects the nervous system and can cause genetic mutations in humans. In contrast, the Outlander not only used bromine, but also leather seats treated with chromium, a chemical that is <a href="http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=10" target="_blank"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>known to cause cancer</span></a>; along with seat materials that contain lead that <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lead-poisoning/FL00068" target="_blank"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>delays development in children</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Prior to 2006, manufacturers produced all new cars with PVC. In 2005, some automakers announced they would phase out PVC. By 2006, 4.1 percent of new cars produced were PVC-free, a number that grew to 16.7 percent for 2011 and 2012 models. Honda, maker of the Civic, lead automakers in PVC reduction; 83 percent of their 2011/2012 cars were PVC free.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The consumer advocates measured toxic chemicals in auto interiors with handheld X-ray fluorescence devices. Researchers took measurements on car seats, armrests, steering wheels, door trim and shift knobs. In many cases, researchers found harmful chemicals at levels that exceed indoor and outdoor air quality standards.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>"Our testing is intended to expose those dangers and encourage manufacturers to use safer alternatives," Gearhart said in a press release. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>The full list of cars can be viewed <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.php" target="_blank"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>here</span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:18.0pt'><i><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>To report problems or to leave feedback about this article, e-mail: <a href="mailto:a.khan@ibtimes.com?Subject=FEEDBACK:%20[299281]%20New-Car%20Smell:%20Find%20out%20How%20Toxic%20the%20Interior%20of%20Your%20New%20Car%20is&body=%0A%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibtimes.com%2Farticles%2F299281%2F20120215%2Fnew-car-smell-toxic.htm"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>a.khan@ibtimes.com</span></a><br>To contact the editor, e-mail: <a href="mailto:editor@ibtimes.com?Subject=FEEDBACK:%20[299281]%20New-Car%20Smell:%20Find%20out%20How%20Toxic%20the%20Interior%20of%20Your%20New%20Car%20is&body=%0A%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.ibtimes.com%2Farticles%2F299281%2F20120215%2Fnew-car-smell-toxic.htm"><span style='color:#AE8D08'>editor@ibtimes.com</span></a></span></i><span lang=EN style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.php">http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.php</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>There's more to green vehicles than just fuel economy<o:p></o:p></span></h3><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>HealthyStuff.org produces one-of-kind ratings for healthy interiors for new vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This is the only organization that routinely tests new vehicles for the health of their vehicle interiors and posts the data publicly for consumers. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>While fuel economy is important, the public in increasingly concerned about chemical hazards in consumer products. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>There is no mandatory testing or regulation of chemicals used inside vehicles. Thus, consumers face a lack of information while they are car shopping. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo6;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Long-term exposure even to small amounts of pollutants can adversely impact health. Children are at a greater risk for developing health problems because they breathe in more air with respect to their body size than adults and thus have greater exposure to interior vehicle pollutants. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Chemical Hazards in Vehicles</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo7;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Exposure to many toxic chemicals is highest indoors:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Average Americans spend up to 90% of their daily lives indoors. The EPA has estimated indoor air pollution levels can be two to five times higher than outdoor air pollution levels. EPA has ranked indoor air pollution one of the top five environmental risks to public health. Next to homes and offices, we spend the most time in automobiles: 1.5 hours per day on average. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo7;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The "New Car Smell" is toxic:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> The "new car smell" is actually the smell of toxic chemicals off-gassing from interior auto parts such as the seating, dashboards and vehicle trim. Since 1960 the quantity of plastics used in vehicles has grown ten-fold, rising from 22 pounds in 1960 to over 250 pounds today. Many synthetic materials and plastics are produced with chemical additives that are used to change the engineering performance of the plastics, thus these plastics may contain plasticizers, stabilizers, flame retardants, aintimicorbials and antioxidants. Due to these additives, many pollutants, including benzene, toluene and xylene, were found in levels exceeding indoor and outdoor air quality standards. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo7;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The concentrations of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in vehicles contribute nearly 30% to total daily exposure. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo7;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Auto interiors are chemical reactors:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Immediately after delivery, new vehicles have been found to be universally contaminated with very high concentrations of a large number of chemicals that diffuse from interior vehicle materials. Over 275 different chemicals have been identified in vehicles interiors, including chemicals associate with birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer. Automobiles are unique and harsh environments for plastics. Air temperature extremes of 192 F (89 C) and dash temperatures up to 248 F (120 C) have been observed in vehicles. These extreme temperatures can increase the concentration of VOCs and high levels of sunlight producing breakdown products which can also be harmful to human health. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l9 level1 lfo7;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Some cars are better the others, healthier cars are possible:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> HealthyStuff.org has screened 900 vehicles since 2006. Our unique tests show a clear difference between the best vehicles and bets companies and others. The best vehicles today have eliminated important chemical hazards, including hazardous flame retardants and PVC. Today, 17% of new vehicles have PVC-free interiors and 60% are produced without BFRs in the interiors. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Vehicle ratings</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo8;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>HealthyStuff.org is releasing one-of-kind test data on 204 new 2011-2012 model new vehicles. This data is part of a multi-year HealthyStuff.org vehicle database containing test results for 900 vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo8;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The overall best and worst vehicles are listed below. <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The 2012 Honda Civic (score 0.46) was the overall best-rated vehicle and 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport (score 3.17) was the overall worst-rated vehicle this year</span></strong>. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo8;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Civic achieved its ranking by being free of bromine-base flame retardants is all interior components, utilizing PVC-free interior fabrics and interior trim, and low levels of heavy metals and other metal allergens. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l10 level1 lfo8;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Mitsubishi Outlander contained bromine and antimony-bases flame retardants in seating, the center console and seat base, chromium treated leather on several components and over 400 ppm lead in seating materials. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid #D9D6D3 4.5pt;padding:0in 0in 4.0pt 0in;background:white'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt;text-align:center;background:white;border:none;padding:0in'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><img border=0 width=650 height=483 id="Picture_x0020_23" src="cid:image006.jpg@01CCED65.9D4F9520" alt="http://www.healthystuff.org/pressimages/Best_Worst_2012.jpg"></span></b><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><p align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Overall Vehicle Ratings:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> Overall vehicle ratings continue to improve. These improvements are due to a significant reduction in the use of PVC and BFR by some automakers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Top Ranked Manufacturer:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> The top-rated automaker for healthy interiors continues to be Honda. Honda has been HealthyStuff.org's top ranked automaker every year since 2007. Hyundai-Kia has been the lowest ranked manufacturer for the last two years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Auto Manufacturer Trends</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo9;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Most Improved Automakers: Most improved automakers in terms of the average ratings for their vehicles are VW (+42%), Mitsubishi (+38%) and Ford (+30%). These represent improvement in their average vehicle scores between the combined 2009-2010 models years to the combined 2011-2012 model years. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo9;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Automakers With Declining Ratings: Two automakers had overall declining average scores between the combined 2009-2010 models years to the combined 2011-2012 model years. Daimler AG (-29%) and Volvo (-13%). <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>PVC in vehicles</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PVC is the most toxic plastic:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> PVC, a widely used type of plastic in vehicles that is of concern to the environment and public health during all phases of its life cycle. During the production phase, workers at PVC facilities, as well as residents and wildlife in surrounding neighborhoods, may be exposed to the vinyl chloride monomer and/or dioxin, both of which are likely carcinogen. At the end of vehicle life, PVC causes a host of additional environmental issues. PVC is not easily recycled from auto parts and therefore often ends up in landfills, where the chemicals can leach out and contaminate soil, water and wildlife. Otherwise, it is incinerated or burned for energy recovery, in which case highly toxic dioxins and furans can form and be emitted into the air. Flexible PVC often contains hazardous plasticizers, or 'softeners,' called phthalates, which off-gas during vehicle use and are deposited on dust particles and windshields, where they cause "fogging." <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PVC-free alternatives are available:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> PVC-free alternatives are available for almost every use of PVC in the automotive sector. In recent years, automakers have begun replacing PVC with polyurethanes and polyolefins, which contain fewer harmful additives and are easier to recycle. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>On a fleet-wide basis PVC use continues to decline:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Zero percent of pre-2006 vehicles had PVC-free interiors. 17% (34) of 2011/2012 vehicle models had PVC-free interiors. Overall 103, 2006-2012 model year vehicles in the HealthyStuff.org vehicle database have PVC-free interiors. A complete list of PVC-free vehicle is available. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p align=center style='margin-left:.5in;text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><img border=0 width=549 height=269 id="Picture_x0020_24" src="cid:image004.jpg@01CCED65.309FA370" alt=pvc></span><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Honda phases out PVC:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Honda has virtually eliminated PVC, with 83% of its 2011/2012 models being free of PVC in the interiors. HealthyStuff.org testing confirms Honda achievement of its publicly stated commitment in its 2011 North American Environmental Report: "Honda's goal is to reduce the use of materials containing chlorine to a less than 1% concentration in materials that can end up in the waste stream as shredder residue at the end of an automobile's useful life." <img border=0 width=567 height=295 id="Picture_x0020_25" src="cid:image005.jpg@01CCED65.309FA370" alt=pvc><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo10;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PVC Use by make(for 2011/12 model year vehicles): </span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lowest PVC Use --- Honda, Suzuki & Mazda Highest PVC Use --- Daimler AG, Saab & Volvo <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Hazardous flame retardants in vehicles</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l7 level1 lfo11;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Brominated flame retardants are widely use in vehicles:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> brominated flame retardants (BFRs) refers a wide range of brominated chemicals added to materials to both inhibit their ignition and slow their rate of combustion. Commonly used examples include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), as well as brominated polymeric and oligomeric materials. 40% of vehicle tested in 2012 contained BFRs n the vehicle interiors. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l7 level1 lfo11;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Many BFRs are toxic and everywhere:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Several BFRs, including certain PBDEs and HBCD, have known toxic properties, are highly resistant to degradation in the environment and are able to bioaccumulate (build up in animals and humans). Some are now widespread environmental pollutants, with higher levels generally being found in the atmosphere and rivers close to urban and industrialised areas. These compounds can be released from such products during use, leading to their presence in household dust and resulting in increased human exposure. And when these products reach the end of their useful lives, some disposal or recycling operations (e.g incineration, smelting and open burning) can release the bromine in other hazardous forms, including as hydrogen bromide and brominated dioxins. Levels of BFR's in the interior vehicle environment are 5-10 higher then homes and offices. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l7 level1 lfo11;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Vehicles can be safe without hazardous flame retardants:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> HealthyStuff.org testing illustrates that safer alternatives can be used to replace the most hazardous chemical used in vehicles. Alternatives which provide the degree of fire safety required under law without using organic compounds of bromine do already exist, including some direct chemical substitutes, as well as use of alternative materials and even product redesign in order to reduce or eliminate the need for flame-retardant additives. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Halogen-free vehicles</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo12;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>PVC & BFR-free vehicles are on the market today:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Automakers continue to implement alternatives to PVC and BFRs. In 2006 only 2% of vehicle interiors were free of PVC and BFRs. In 2012, 4-times the number of vehicles (8%) were free of PVC and BFRs. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h3 align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Regional Differences in Chemical Use</span><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></h3><p align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>This data highlights regional differences in PVC and BFRs between European, Asian and North America assembled vehicles. The country in which vehicles were assembled was tracked using the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Overall, the progressive regulation of chemical additives in consumer products in Europe and end of life vehicle concerns in Asia is driving elimination of important chemical hazards from vehicles.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo13;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Asia:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Vehicles assembled in Asia utilized significantly less PVC in vehicle components. On average, vehicles assembled in Japan or Korea showed a 50% reduction in the use of PVC. However, Asia assembled vehicles contained on average over twice the number of components. This data likely reflects the increased focus by Asian manufacturers, lead by Honda, on reducing the amount of chlorine in vehicles due to concerns about emissions during end-of-life vehicle processing. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo13;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Europe:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Vehicles assembled in Europe utilized the most PVC, more than double the amount of vehicles assembled in other parts of the world. However, levels of BFR use in vehicles are by far the lowest in Europe. This difference likely reflects the impact of European regulations, including the End of Life Vehicle Directive, RHoS and REACH on components being used in vehicles. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo13;background:white'><strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>North America:</span></strong><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> While all North American manufacturers market vehicles globally, our data illustrates that US produced vehicles lag behind European and Asian produced vehicles in PVC and BFR use reduction. The US has the weakest chemical regulatory system for chemical in consumer products and provides the fewest incentives for companies to phase-out hazardous chemicals. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Note: HealthyStuff.org only tests for a limited set of chemical hazards. Vehicles may also contain other chemical hazards, including chlorinated flame retardants (CFR) which were NOT tested for in this study <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><hr size=2 width="100%" align=center></span></div><div style='mso-element:para-border-div;border:none;border-bottom:solid #D9D6D3 4.5pt;padding:0in 0in 4.0pt 0in;background:white'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.5pt;text-align:center;background:white;border:none;padding:0in'><b><span style='font-size:14.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Other Recent HealthyStuff.org Studies <o:p></o:p></span></b></p></div><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l11 level1 lfo14;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.halloween.2011.php"><span style='color:#2200CC;text-decoration:none'>Halloween Products (2011)</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:black;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;text-align:center;mso-list:l11 level1 lfo14;background:white'><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.findings.carseats.2011.php"><span style='color:#2200CC;text-decoration:none'>Children's Car Seats (2011)</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>NOTE: </span></b><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>HealthyStuff.org is an initial screening of chemicals in products for a handful of hazardous chemicals. There are a number of chemicals of concern that the <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/documents/XRFfactsheet.pdf"><span style='color:#2200CC;text-decoration:none'>X-ray fluorescence (XRF) device</span></a> and HealthyStuff.org cannot detect. For example, there has been much concern recently about bisphenol A, a component of polycarbonate plastic. The XRF device is not able to detect bisphenol A, nor can it identify polycarbonate. In addition, the XRF device cannot detect phthalates, a family of chemicals of concern, although we have used the presence of PVC plastic as a surrogate for the likely presence of phthalates.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align=center style='text-align:center;background:white'><i><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>HealthyStuff.org ratings do not provide a measure of health risk or chemical exposure associated with any individual product, or any individual element or related chemical. HealthyStuff.org ratings only provide a relative measure of high, medium, and low level of concern or concentrations of several hazardous chemicals or chemical elements in product in comparison to criteria established in the <a href="http://www.healthystuff.org/departments/cars/about.methodology.php"><span style='color:#2200CC;text-decoration:none'>methodology</span></a>.</span></i><span style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Deborah L. DeBiasi</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Email: Deborah.DeBiasi@deq.virginia.gov</span></b><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:red'><br></span></i></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>WEB site address: <a href="http://www.deq.virginia.gov/">www.deq.virginia.gov</a></span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Virginia Department of Environmental Quality</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Office of Water Permit and Compliance Assistance Programs</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Industrial Pretreatment/Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) Program</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><a href="http://www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html">www.deq.virginia.gov/vpdes/microconstituents.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:red'>4th National DEA Drug Collection 04/28/12, 10-2 pm</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:red'>Go to </span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><a href="www.dea.gov"><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.dea.gov</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:red'> for site locations</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Mail: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>Location: 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219</span><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'><br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:navy'>PH: 804-698-4028 FAX: 804-698-4032</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#000099'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>