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Behind the New Car Smell: Why Are We Falling in Love with Those Harmful VOCs?
The smell of a new car is an irresistible attraction for many people, however, the source of this aroma is volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are not only found in cars, but actually everywhere. According to the definition of environmental protection agencies, VOCs are organic compounds with high vapor pressure at normal temperatures, which are accompanied by a variety of interior products such as furniture, cleaning products and paints. Although the smell of VOCs is often considered pleasant, some VOCs may pose long-term and hidden threats to human health.
The source and definition of VOC
As for the definition of VOCs in different regions, each country has its own unique standards.
In Canada, VOCs are defined as organic compounds with boiling points between approximately 50 and 250 degrees Celsius.
According to EU standards, VOCs refer to any organic compound with a vapor pressure of 0.01 kPa or higher.
These substances come from a variety of human activities, including car use, cleaning products, paint, and even the process of cooking. Such sources make the concentration of VOCs indoors often up to ten times higher than outdoors, becoming a major concern for air quality.
Why we love the “new car smell”
The smell of new cars mainly comes from VOCs released from interior materials. The reason why the smell makes us feel happy is partly due to our psychological reaction. This smell is associated with feelings of freshness, stability and comfort, acting as an intangible emotional marker, although it may actually be harmful to health.
The sources of VOCs include plastics, leather, adhesives and other materials used in new cars. These materials will release a large amount of volatile compounds in the early stages of use.
Because of this connection between emotion and memory, people's preference for the smell of new cars is increasing day by day, but they also ignore the potential health risks it may bring.
Health effects of indoor VOCs
Scientific research shows that long-term exposure to high concentrations of VOCs can cause a variety of health problems, including respiratory diseases, headaches, vomiting and other symptoms. This impact is particularly serious for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and young children.
For example, studies have shown that certain VOCs, such as benzene and toluene, are significantly linked to increased human health risks.
VOCs can enter the bloodstream after inhalation and cause long-term damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system, all of which are often unknown wisdom. More and more research shows that these hazards may appear at any time, catching people by surprise.
VOCs supervision and policies in various countries
Facing the health risks of VOCs, governments around the world have also begun to take active measures. For example, the European Union has adopted the "VOCs Solvent Emission Directive" to limit VOCs emissions in industrial activities. In its three-year action plan released in 2018, China proposed to reduce VOCs emissions from automobiles and industrial applications by 2020.
In the United States, California has the most stringent VOC emission regulations, which not only include industrial emissions, but also cover household products.
The formulation of these policies not only targets industrial and commercial use, but also focuses on VOCs emissions in daily life, striving to improve overall air quality.
Future direction: reducing the use of VOCs
As the understanding of VOCs continues to deepen, many companies have begun to rethink the formulations of various products and explore low-VOCs or no-VOCs materials. Consumers are also paying more and more attention to the environmental labels and ingredients of products, thus driving the market towards healthier and lower-emission products.
Although such changes are slow, they are an important part of meeting the challenges of VOCs in the future.
Should we re-evaluate the products around us to ensure that every material we use is safe?
