Dec 13 2010
How To Make Your Car Allergy-proof
Life can be hard for those who have allergies. Volatile organic chemicals (VOC) can cause nasal problems, respiratory issues and more. Even though allergies can not be totally eliminated you can take steps to prevent them.
Your car is one place to begin. Much of your life is spent in your car so you should take care of any allergens in it. Both the car itself and external factors can cause allergies.
The car can affect allergies by having potentially dangerous synthetic materials in it. Phthalates, for example are chemicals used to give plastic a softer feel. They can release fumes when heated by direct sunlight. Flame retardants that use bromine can cause allergies by skin contact. Brominated flame retardents known to be dangerous have been retired but some are still in use. Although these are generally harmless, certain cars that use less are generally regarded as somewhat safer than those that use more. Volvos are thought to be the safest cars. Fords are fairly safe and Chevrolets can be fairly dangerous. The easy way to make your car safe is to keep it cool. Heat is known to cause phthalates to fume, so keep your car cool.
If you own a historic vehicle, you may have to deal with materials that wouldn't have been tested as being potential allergens. Although, depending on its age, many of the chemicals may have already dispersed long ago.
A car that has been used (or is still being used) by a smoker, can be a problem for allergy sufferers as the pollutants in cigarettes linger in the upholstery of the car and are released over time
The second cause of allergies is one outside of the car itself. Pollens, molds and other pests can cause a car to become an incubator of allergies. Air vacuuming can eliminate pollens and car dehumidifiers can rid you of molds. In additon, some dehumidifiers are also filters which can help take pollens and such out of the air.
In conclusion, your car does not have to be an incubator for allergens. You can deal with allergens if you do a little research.
To recap:
- Buy a car with a pollen filter if you can
- Don't buy a car that's been used by a smoker
- If you are a smoker, give up because your second hand smoke will be causing other people misery in your vehicle
- If you drive with a cigarette smoker, insist they don't light up in the vehicle
- Use a vehicle dehumidifier if your car smells musty or damp
- Vacuum your car regularly
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