Do you think you are safe in your car? And yet, at every moment spent in the passenger compartment of your vehicle, you expose yourself to a significant risk.
Almost every day, millions of motorists take place in their vehicle to go to work, take children to school, race or go on weekends. This daily journey, which has become so natural that we no longer pay attention to it, nevertheless hides an unsuspected risk. Whether in a recent city car or a family minivan, in a rental vehicle for holidays or even in public transport, we spend a long time locked up in vehicles. During all this time, we breathe the air of the passenger compartment with confidence, without imagining that he can contain something other than familiar odors. And yet …
Scientists have just lifted the veil on this disturbing reality: the interior of the cars is anything but healthy. A study published in the scientific journal Plos One reveals alarming figures. The researchers discovered “An invisible threat”approximately “2.238 Particles of microplastics per cubic meter of air inside the cars”or four times more than in our houses in which they have counted 528. These microscopic particles, of a size between 1 and 10 micrometers, come from the degradation of the many plastic elements that make up the passenger compartment of a car: dashboards, flyers, door handles, tapestry of seats, carpets and coverings.
“Materials can release tiny plastic particles over time, in particular because of solar radiation, friction, heat and daily use”explain two of the study authors, Jeroen Sonke and Nadia Yakovenko. The situation is all the more worrying since “Unlike houses, cars’ habitacles are often poorly ventilated, which promotes the accumulation and concentration of plastic microparticles in the air. Therefore, they can be inhaled in greater quantity during daily journeys or long journeys”.
Faced with this reality, it is reassuring to know that simple gestures can make the difference on a daily basis. To protect your family, remember to ventilate your vehicle regularly by opening the windows or using ventilation, especially after prolonged parking in the sun. Experts also recommend avoiding as much as possible to leave your car exposed to heat, as it accelerates the release of these particles. Frequent cleaning of the cabin, particularly plastic surfaces, can also reduce the accumulation of dust loaded with microplastics. For shorter journeys, favor travel by public transport or on foot when it is possible remains the best strategy to reduce the time spent in these environments concentrated in microplastics.
