The average American spends almost one hour every day at work, a number that picks up quickly.
Now, research has found that California car commuters can be exposed to above-acceptable levels of unhealthy chemicals during their daily work trips.
The estimate of the commuting times of census data and the use of measurements of chemicals detected in previous studies found in the new study that commuting of more than 20 minutes puts people at risk for unacceptably high levels of two carcinogens used in car manufacturing .
At first glance, this may seem like worrying news to people who spend a lot of time behind the wheel every day. But there are a lot of factors at play, so let’s pack it out a bit.
The clear smell of a new car reflects a bit on what is happening here. Materials used to fit cars, from hard and soft plastics to adhesives, textiles and foams, contain chemicals that can slowly seep into the air (the technical term is ‘exhaust gas’) or drive a ride on dust.
“These chemicals are very volatile and move easily from plastic and textiles to the air you breathe,” said David Volz of the University of California Environmental Toxicologist, who co-authored the study.
Volatile connections can build up in small spaces, such as in a car (unless you open a window for fresh air).
Although much research so far has focused on outdoor air pollution and its impact on health and indoor environments, such as workplaces or homes where people spend most of their days, this study suggests that chemicals that build up in vehicles can also be of concern. be – for some drivers.
The study aimed to estimate when someone’s exposure to known carcinogens is likely to exceed safe thresholds based on the time commuters spent in their vehicles, and on the levels of five chemicals detected in cars in previous studies.
The researchers predicted that commuters’ daily exposure to two out of five chemicals studied – benzene and formaldehyde – would likely exceed the levels of California health authorities that are considered safe or permissible after 20 minutes. The probability kept rising the longer a person’s commute traveled.
The two chemicals of concern are not major unknowns, but certainly attention. Benzene is found in rubber and dyes, and formaldehyde is used in carpets and paints, both of which are on the long list of carcinogens in Proposition 65. What’s new here is looking at the risks these chemicals can pose specifically to drivers.
“Our study raises concerns about the potential risk associated with inhaling benzene and formaldehyde for people who spend a significant amount of time in their vehicles, a problem that is particularly relevant in high-traffic areas where people commute longer,” he said. the authors of the study said. wrote.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a larger percentage of people had a greater chance (above 1 in 10) of exceeding cancer risk thresholds for benzene and formaldehyde during their daily commute in areas around San Francisco and the infamous busy traffic in Los Angeles.
“Of course, there is a variety of exposure that depends on how long you have been in the car, and how much of the compounds your car emits,” which can depend on the age of the vehicle and the ambient temperature, the student said. lead author Aalekhya Reddam, also of the University of California Riverside.
In other words, just because something is called a carcinogen does not mean that it can cause health problems – it depends on the dose to which people are exposed and how often.
Even known carcinogens are unlikely to cause cancer below certain thresholds, and limiting your exposure to harmful substances reduces the risk involved.
In addition, the poor health outcomes observed in commuters, including higher cancer rates, can result from a combination of inactivity, obesity, and shorter sleep, which are often accompanied by long commute traffic. These factors were not considered in this study.
However, some people have no choice but to travel by car – or maybe it’s taxi drivers whose job it is is to drive. To reduce the risk of exposure, more can be done during the manufacturing process to replace chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde with less harmful alternatives.
“As people with long commutes are an already vulnerable subpopulation, additional measures need to be implemented to reduce potential cancer risks associated with exposure to benzene and formaldehyde,” the duo wrote in their paper.
“There must be alternatives to these chemicals to achieve the same goals while manufacturing vehicles,” Volz added. “If so, it should be used.”
Improving access to public transport and cycling networks can also provide people with more options to get to work, while at the same time adding a bit of casual exercise to their commute and easing the traffic congestion that clogs city roads.
The research was published in Environment International.