Automotive interiors graded on air quality 21797

Orlando, FL — Although the quality of outside air remains a concern for environmental groups, at least one is closely monitoring interior air quality, specifically car interiors, 50% of which are made of plastics, according to the Ecology Center (Ann Arbor, MI). In a presentation during the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE; Brookfield, CT) Global Plastics Environmental Conference (GPEC; March 6-7, Orlando), Claudette Juska of the nonprofit Ecology Center said the growing importance of what goes into a car interior is relative to the increasing amount of time drivers spend in their vehicles, with the current average at 1.5 hr/day—more time than is spent outside. Those periods are times when drivers can be exposed to off-gassing of materials and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that the Ecology Center is now tracking. Of particular interest are phthalates in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) components, which the Center says can off gas, and the bioaccumulation of certain flame retardants, specifically DBDE (deca brominated diphenyl ether), which it says can degrade into chemicals banned by automakers.

In April the center will publish a Consumer Guide to Toxic Chemicals in Cars (www.healthycar.org), releasing the results of a study where x-ray fluorescent spectrometry was used to give an elemental readout of all the materials in a car. More than 200 cars were sampled, with the material makeup of over 2400 parts, including consoles, carpets, trim, headliners, dashboards, seat bases, gear shifters, and more, tested.

Of the group the Ecology Center tested, they found that 79% didn’t have chlorine, 57% didn’t have bromine, and 38% didn’t have halogens, according to Juska. Cars rated favorable included the Acura TSX, Honda Odyssey, Chevy Cobalt, and Cadillac CTS. In addition to the Ecology Center’s efforts, Japan’s Ministry of Health and independent test institutes like Oeko-Tex (Zürich, Switzerland) and TÜV Rheinland Group (Cologne, Germany) are creating standards for car interiors.

TÜV has certified four Ford vehicles for adequately limiting VOCs in their interiors, and Toyota and Honda are working towards approval, with Honda saying it wants to be PVC free and Toyota setting a goal to lower VOCs by 2010.

The Ecology Center also releases an annual Automotive Plastics Report Card (See MPW November 2005 World Tour for more), based on sustainable materials application, including recycled content and biobased polymers, with the latest coming in November 2006. The report covers the eight largest car sellers in the U.S., encompassing 90% of the autos sold in America. The grades were Toyota (C+), Ford (C), Honda (C), DaimlerChrysler (D+), General Motors (D), Hyundai (D), Nissan (D), and Volkswagen (D-). “The gap is growing between the leaders and the laggards,” Juska said, “but of course, the leaders still only have C’s.” The Ecology Center’s goals for the industry are to eliminate halogenated flame retardants, design with 95% recyclable plastics, and use 50% recycled or biobased resins by 2015.—[email protected]