Volvo Best in Interior Air Quality

An independent survey carried out by the Ecology Center in Detroit shows that the interiors of Volvo’s cars emit lower levels of toxic substances than other car makes.

According to a Volvo Press Release, Volvo cars have the lowest toxic emissions of new building material out of any car on the market. The Ecology Center recently presented a study of the toxic chemicals used in building car interiors. Flame retardant PBDE and phthalates, whose main use is as a softener in plastics, were included in the study. This material is the main building block of all dashes and most plastics within a car. It helps create malleable surfaces for help in constructing the dash as well as creating a soft to the touch feel instead of hard and shiny. These chemical substances can migrate from plastics and textiles, particularly at high temperatures. The car'’s occupants may thus be exposed to these substances after entering a car or even driving while outside temperatures are very hot. Certain types of phthalates and flame retardants can for instance promote genetic mutations and can subject car occupants to health hazards.

Full release can be found here