Could your car make you sick? Study highlights potentially cancerous toxins in vehicles

Americans may be breathing in cancer-causing chemicals while driving, recent research suggests.

A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has sparked discussions about the potentially harmful toxins that could be lurking in the cabins of vehicles.

"Certainly the indoor air quality can cause health symptoms," Dr. Ken Speath, M.D., the division chief and medical director for occupational and environmental medicine at Northwell Health on Long Island, New York, told Fox News Digital.

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It is important to be mindful of what you're breathing in at home, at the office, at school and even in cars, according to Speath, who was not involved in the study.

"There can be situations where levels of harmful chemicals get high enough to potentially cause health harms," he said.

"A car is a closed small space — so whatever is in the air is certainly going to be breathed in."

The peer-reviewed study looked at 101 owned vehicles in the U.S., model year 2015 or newer.

The researchers concluded that harmful flame-retardant chemicals — including those suspected of potentially causing cancer and some neurological issues — may be polluting the air inside vehicles.

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"Flame retardant chemicals, which are intentionally added to vehicle interiors to meet flammability standards, are released into the cabin air from the materials to which they were applied," lead author Rebecca Hoehn, a scientist at Duke University, told Fox News Digital.

"People in these vehicles may be exposed to these chemicals."

Seat foam was the only material the researchers measured, Hoehn said, but other interior materials could also contain the chemicals.

"Considering the average driver spends about an hour in the car every day, this is a significant public health issue," Hoehn warned.

"It’s particularly concerning for drivers with longer commutes, as well as child passengers, who breathe more air pound for pound than adults."

The chemicals detected in the car cabins included a flame retardant called tris (1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), which is currently being investigated as a potential carcinogen by the U.S. National Toxicology Program.

Other flame retardants — tris (1, 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) and tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) — were also detected. 

These are "two Californian Proposition 65 carcinogens linked to neurological and reproductive harms," according to a press release.

Higher concentrations of the flame retardants were found during warmer weather.

"We found that the same cars, sampled in both winter and summer, had higher concentrations of flame retardants in the cabin air during the warm summer months," Hoehn told Fox News Digital.

Flame retardants are added to vehicles to meet the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 302), which mandated their use in the 1970s, the release stated.

Flame retardants have been the "focus of concern for some time," Speath told Fox News Digital.

More information is needed to determine the health risks these chemicals pose in humans, he said.

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"A number of these have been demonstrated in studies to have health harms in animals," he said.

"That doesn’t necessarily mean that would be true for humans, but it raises that possibility, so we need to study these chemicals more in relation to their effects on humans."

Emanuela Taioli, M.D., PhD, the director of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, was also not part of the study, but shared her reactions.

"This is a very relevant finding, since it may prompt changes in cars’ upholstery, as well as in other parts of the car where there is foam," she told Fox News Digital via email.

"We also want to know more about this finding and monitor whether it is replicated by other investigators."

Stephen Showalter, a home inspector and indoor environmental air consultant with Showalter Property Consultants in Maryland, said he typically interviews clients about their history of illness, then tests for potential sources of sickness in buildings, cars, RVs and boats. 

Mold is a common culprit when it comes to health issues triggered by one’s environment, he said in an interview with Fox News Digital.

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Dr. Daniel Johns, a member of the International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illnesses and a chiropractor who practices in Annapolis, Maryland, echoed Showalter’s concerns about mold-related health issues.

Johns also cautioned that cars can be a daily source of mold exposure.

"Any water that leaks from a window, sunroof or convertible can get into the carpet and cause mold growth," he said during an interview with Fox News Digital. 

"Mold can start growing on a wet surface within 24 to 48 hours."

For families with small children, spilled sippy cups could play a role when it comes to mold in cars, Johns warned.

"The water seeps into the upholstery and doesn't get noticed or properly dried out, and the whole seat can become moldy," he said.

"Every time you sit on the seat, it releases a mold spore cloud into the car. Once that happens, you can't clean it away. The upholstery must be removed and replaced."

The impact of these potentially harmful pollutants can vary from one person to the next, experts told Fox News Digital.

People metabolize chemicals and toxins in different ways, according to Taioli. 

"Metabolism happens through enzymes that the body produces," he said. 

"Each of us has a different genetic profile that defines our metabolic capacity. As a consequence, the same amount of toxin may be metabolized better/faster by some, and worse/slower by others."

While further research on car-borne chemicals is needed, experts say people can take measures to limit exposure.

"People may be able to reduce their exposure by ventilating their cars," Hoehn advised. 

"For example, rolling down the windows to let out contaminated air, or pulling in fresh air with climate control systems, should reduce concentrations. 

Controlling your vehicle’s cabin temperature may also reduce exposure, she added. 

"Parking in a garage or shade instead of full sun may reduce the cabin temperature and limit the extent of flame retardant release," Hoehn said.

The researchers also called for action from regulatory agencies and vehicle manufacturers. 

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"Ultimately, reducing the amount of flame retardants added to vehicles in the first place would provide the greatest reduction in exposure risk," Hoehn noted.

"If flammability standards for vehicles could be revised to meet fire safety guidelines without the use of added flame retardants, risk of flame retardant exposure from personal vehicles could be greatly reduced."

Having your car’s air quality and surfaces tested is one way to reduce the risk of exposure to allergens, toxins and chemicals, experts told Fox News Digital.

To prevent mold in a vehicle, Showalter recommends keeping your windows up when it rains or snows to prevent water from permeating the carpet or fabric.

He also cautioned about leaky air conditioners, which can foster mold growth in vehicles, and about leaving wet items in the car.

Lastly, before buying a used car, he said it is important to check the vehicle’s history to make sure it doesn’t have flood damage, which can lead to mold and other issues.

If you think you are experiencing illness due to chemical exposure in your car, home or office, it’s best to see a health care professional to discuss your symptoms.

Fox News Digital reached out to several major car companies for comment.

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