American researchers have warned of the potential carcinogenic effect of triphosphate, a gas present in the majority of cars.
- Triphosphate, or TCIPP, is a gas, which results from products supposed to slow fires, which can be found in cars.
- Exposure to this gas would have favored the appearance of liver and uterine tumors in rats and mice, according to a report from the US Department of Health.
- To reduce exposure to this toxic substance, it is recommended to open the doors of your car for a few minutes to ventilate the cabin.
In the event of high heat, the circulation of a potentially carcinogenic gas is favored in the passenger compartment of a car, according to an American study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
The presence of triphosphate identified in 99% of vehicles studied
As part of this research, scientists from Duke University and the Green Science Policy Institute (United States) recruited 101 vehicle owners. Each participant received a special silicone sampler, which had to be attached to the rearview mirror of their car for a week. Some volunteers also took a small piece of foam from their car seat and had it analyzed in the laboratory. All car models were from 2015 or later.
After careful examination of the samples, the presence of triphosphate, or TCIPP, a toxic gas from products supposed to slow fires, was identified in 99% of the vehicles studied. Another observation from the researchers? Increasing temperatures lead to an increase in the concentration of this substance. It was about four times higher in samples taken in summer. This reaction is also reinforced when this gas is present in the foam of car seats.
Triphosphate: ventilate the passenger compartment to reduce exposure
In a report published in 2023, the US Department of Health had warned of the potentially carcinogenic effects of TCIPP. After exposure, tumors of the liver as well as the uterus were discovered in rats and mice. Additional studies need to be carried out to know the impact of this gas in humans.
To reduce exposure to this toxic substance, it is recommended to open the car doors to ventilate the cabin before getting in. “Opening the doors to let the air escape for a few minutes before sitting in the vehicle should help, as should rolling down the windows for the first few minutes of the journey.”entrusted Doctor Lydia Jahl, co-author of the study as well as scientific and political collaborator at the Green Science Policy Institute, to the media StudyFinds.
