Is the smell of a new car over 2.03 million yen dangerous? Identity of "Sick Car Syndrome" New cars of 2.03 million yen or more are dangerous !? New car odor that 70% of people like The identity of "Sick Car Syndrome"

Nearly 70% of users say they like the new car! In fact, there is also a health hazard ...

New cars have a unique odor, also known as the smell of new cars. Many people will be strongly impressed by the odor that they don't usually feel. Also, many drivers like this new car odor.

In the past, Volvo Cars Japan conducted a survey on the odor of new cars. The target of the survey is a total of 800 people, 100 people of each generation and gender, in their 20s to 50s who have purchased new cars.

[Image] See sick car measures that can be easily done at home! (5 sheets)

When asked "Do you like the smell of new cars?" In the survey, "I like it very much" 22%, "I like it if anything" 50.3%, "I hate it if anything" 22.3%, "I hate it" The result was 5.5%.

It has been found that more than 70% of the 800 people surveyed prefer the odor of new cars.

As you can see, the odor of a new car is favored by many drivers, but in reality, there are concerns about health hazards. Regarding this, the odor expert "Odor and Kaori Environmental Association" says as follows.

"The main cause of the odor of new cars is'VOC', which is considered to be the cause of sick building syndrome.

It comes from volatile chemicals and has a different jurisdiction than odors, so I can't answer in detail. "

What does it mean that it is not under the jurisdiction of odors?

First of all, it is said that the cause of poor physical condition due to the odor of new cars is "VOC (volatile organic compound)" which is one of the causes of "sick house syndrome" known as one of the housing problems.

In fact, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association is also making "voluntary efforts to reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in the passenger compartment."

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) refer to organic compounds that easily volatilize at room temperature, and mainly include substances such as "trichlorethylene", "tetrachloroethylene", "formaldehyde", "toluene", "benzene", and "xylene".

These chemical substances are widely used as solvents for paints and adhesives, taking advantage of their characteristics such as easy volatilization (easy to dry) and excellent lipophilicity (easy to remove oil stains). Some people may have an allergic reaction due to the odor emitted by the paint.

The main symptoms are headache, sneezing that doesn't stop, head dullness, arthralgia, rash (with pain and itching), low-grade fever, and dizziness.

The fact that these symptoms can occur in new car odors is also pervasive among some experts under the name "sick building syndrome" in association with sick building syndrome.

Sick car syndrome is outside the jurisdiction of odors because it is based on volatile organic compounds rather than direct health hazards caused by odors.

In addition, sick car syndrome is more likely to be unable to make normal judgments if symptoms develop while driving.

If the above-mentioned symptoms progress as they are, they may cause disorders such as mental disorders, ophthalmic disorders, peripheral neuropathy, autonomic neuropathy, digestive disorders / immune disorders, dermatitis / asthma, etc.

Therefore, if you feel unwell or mentally unstable while driving, your concentration may be distracted and it may lead to an accident.

In addition to new cars, there are some situations that can cause sick car syndrome.

According to a survey by the Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health, a narrow and enclosed space with a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius or higher creates a situation in which VOCs tend to volatilize, resulting in the tendency for symptoms to appear.

Therefore, it is necessary to pay close attention to the inside of the car in the summer when the temperature rises and the inside of the car in the winter when the heating is effective.

According to the institute, vehicles with a price range of 2.03 million yen or more have a high VOC concentration as a tendency to develop sick car syndrome.

Cars above a certain price range use a lot of adhesives by using wood panels and leather seats in order to give a sense of luxury to the interior, and the rate of VOC content tends to increase. Says.

Calls for VOC measures from each automobile manufacturer

What measures should be taken to control the symptoms of Sick Car Syndrome?

As mentioned above, the main cause of sick car syndrome is the volatile substances in the car, so it is important to improve the environment inside the car.

For that purpose, it is important to take actions such as "provide sufficient ventilation", "clean the filter of the air conditioner of the car and replace it frequently", and "check with the manufacturer about the chemical substances used".

In particular, it is said that it is effective to dry the inside of the car in order to remove the odor of highly volatile adhesives.

In addition to ventilating the inside of the car on a sunny day, wiping the entire inside of the car with a towel moistened with lukewarm water is also effective in removing odors, and it is also recommended to use a commercially available photocatalyst spray.

In addition, since sick car syndrome has been taken up by many media as a social environmental problem, domestic manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda are also taking measures against VOC.

Honda explains typical VOC measures as follows.

"VOCs have been attracting attention in recent years as having effects on the human body such as sick building syndrome.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association has set indoor concentration guideline values ​​for 13 substances, including formaldehyde, set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare as a voluntary initiative target. Will be satisfied from the new model released in 2008.

Honda is a "high-performance deodorizing filter" that has excellent removal performance of exhaust gas odor and pollen, in addition to suppressing the volatile amount of VOC such as formaldehyde and toluene by reviewing the materials, processing methods and adhesives of interior parts. By adopting, the odor and pungent odor in the passenger compartment are reduced and the air quality is improved. "

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As mentioned in Honda's VOC measures, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare has also established standards for indoor concentration guideline values ​​and standard measurement methods for chemical substances in indoor air.

If you are worried about the odor of a new car, it seems worth trying because it can be easily reduced by thorough ventilation, wiping with water with a towel, using a photocatalytic spray, etc.