Hot cars and benzene

[Ella1]

Found this in my e-mailbox this AM. Toxins in vehicles has been discussed in other forums here, and I think reminders are helpful, as we may forget, or others might not yet know of them. And at least here, in Southern Arizona, we're going into the hottest part of the year. (Note, that besides benzene, the materials emit other toxic chemicals too.)

This message from a renowned neurologist in Atlanta:


. To Each AC Car user, Now this is very interesting & MUST READ , as it's for HEALTH !...Car's manual says to roll down the windows to let out all the hot air before turning on the A/C. WHY ?

No wonder more folks are dying from cancer than ever before. We wonder where this stuff comes from, but here is an example that explains a lot of the cancer-causing incidents.

· Many people are in their cars the first thing in the morning, and the last thing at night, 7 days a week.

Please do NOT turn on A/C as soon as you enter the car.



· Open the windows after you enter your car and then after a couple of minutes, turn ON the AC.

· Here's why: According to research, the car's dashboard, seats, a/c ducts, in fact ALL of the plastic objects in your vehicle, emit Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin. A BIG CARCINOGEN. Take the time to observe the smell of heated plastic in your car when you open it, and BEFORE you start it up.

· In addition to causing cancer, Benzene poisons your bones, causes anemia and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure can cause Leukemia and increases the risk of some cancers. It can also cause miscarriages in pregnant women.

· The "acceptable" Benzene level indoors is: 50mg per sq.ft.

A car parked indoors, with windows closed, will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene - 8 times the acceptable level.

· If parked outdoors in the sun, at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level.

· People who get into the car, keeping the windows closed, will eventually INHALE excessive amounts of the BENZENE toxin.

· Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidneys and liver. What's worse, it is extremely difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

· So friends, please open the windows and doors of your car - give it some time for the interior to air out -(dispel the deadly stuff) - before you enter the vehicle.

· Thought: 'When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others

 

[Canine]

Using heat is an excellent method of leaching nasties out of stuff. If you want hot water, use cold water then heat it up in an appropriate vessel. If you use hot water from a water heater, it has been sitting and leaching out lead or whatever may be in contact with it.

A doozy from Benzene is also the cumulative effect is probably very very high. Not only is it dangerous in small amounts, it builds up. You already said that, but I wanted to state it again in a different way to hammer the point home of how bad benzene is.

 

[TMG51]

My dad had a story from college in which a professor scheduled a demonstration of how dangerous Benzine is. While emphasizing its flammability he accidentally set the classroom on fire. When the flames were extinguished, he said, "There, now you've all seen a Benzine fire."

Not entirely related but I enjoyed it.

 

[MikeRuth]

guess I am making an assumption here but when entering a vehicle of any kind that has been sitting in the hot sun, wouldn't the first thing you do is roll down the windows and let some of that excess heat out? I do.
In fact I've been known to on several occasions simply open the doors and windows before even getting in it.

I do this with m car all the time, now that have a MAxAir vent/fan for the van I don't have to as the van is much cooler when I go into it. It's amazing actually as don't get that "I just opened the oven door" experience now with the vent/fan on.

 

[highdesertranger]

thanks Ella. good point. even though I don't use AC and the only times I roll my windows up is if it's raining or very cold. still a very good point because most people roll their windows up and use AC. highdesertranger