As many French people hit the road for their holidays, a study reveals worrying levels of carcinogens released by the materials of new cars during hot summer days.
- A study of volatile organic compounds emitted by new cars during hot summer days found high levels of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and hexaldehyde.
- About a third of the measurements of these substances, recognized as carcinogens, exceeded Chinese standards for air quality in vehicle cabins.
- The temperature of the car’s interior surfaces, rather than the air temperature itself, was the most important factor affecting VOC emissions.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a group of heterogeneous substances. They are ubiquitous in the passenger compartment of vehicles and can have a significant impact on the health of drivers and passengers. Indeed, according to Airparifan organization approved by the Ministry of the Environment for monitoring air quality in Île-de-France, these air pollutants can have carcinogenic or toxic effects on human reproduction and development. Problem: “rapid and intelligent prediction methods are lacking”, reported researchers from the Beijing Institute of Technology (China).
Cancer: Formaldehyde had highest concentration in new car cabins
In a recent study, published in the journal PNAS Nexusthey wanted to assess VOC levels in the cabins of new cars during hot summer days, given that climate change is causing summer temperatures to rise around the world. Data collected over seven summer days, with outside temperatures ranging from 25.3°C to 46.1°C (77.5°F-115°F), revealed high levels of formaldehyde. As a reminder, formaldehyde is a chemical substance present at room temperature in the form of a colorless and flammable gas, which is recognized as a carcinogen at the European level, according to Anses. Other chemicals of concern detected included acetaldehyde and hexaldehyde, both of which are carcinogenic substances.
Disturbing fact: “About a third of the measurements exceeded Chinese standards for vehicle cabin air quality.” The Chinese national concentration limit for formaldehyde in passenger vehicles is 100 μg/m3. The authors found that levels in the experimental car sometimes exceeded 200 μg/m3. The national limit for acetaldehyde is 50 μg/m3. Levels in the study car were as high as 140 μg/m3.
Surface temperature of materials, the most important influence on VOC concentrations
“The most important factor affecting VOC emission behaviors in the passenger compartment is the surface temperature of the material rather than the air temperature,” scientists have pointed out. This is why the new car smell can be particularly strong on sunny days.
To address the challenge of predicting and monitoring these emissions, the team developed a “deep learning” model. This artificial intelligence-based approach, called LSTM-AE, has shown promising results in accurately predicting the concentrations of volatile organic compounds inside the vehicle. “Such a tool could be very useful for car manufacturers and health authorities to assess and mitigate the risks associated with cabin air pollution.”
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