Volvo XC90

An independent study by the Ecology Center declares that the interiors of Volvo’s cars emit lower levels of toxic substances than other car makes.

The Ecology Center, based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, recently presented a study (Toxic at Any Speed: Chemicals in Cars & the Need for Safe Alternatives) of the toxic chemicals used in manufacturing car interiors.

Flame retardant PBDE and phthalates, which are used mainly as a softener in plastics, were included in the study. These chemical substances can migrate, particularly at high temperatures, from plastics and textiles. A car’s occupants may thus be exposed to these substances, for instance, through the respiratory system.

Certain types of phthalates and flame retardants can promote genetic mutations and can subject car occupants to health hazards.

The survey reveals that concentrations of PBDE in dust and on the windscreen of some cars can be up to five times higher than in the home. Because many people today spend a lot of time in their cars, car interiors thus have a significant effect on human health.

Volvo cars have the lowest phthalate emissions

The Ecology Center selected 11 different makes of car built between 2000 and 2005 for the study. The results show that the interiors of Volvo’s cars have the lowest emissions of phthalates. There was even a lower incidence of flame retardant PBDE in Volvo’s models than in most other cars, which according to the Ecology Center makes Volvo a world leader in the area of interior air quality. The Ecology Center encourages other car manufacturers to follow Volvo’s example.

Dedication to a firm goal

“In an age when many people suffer from asthma and allergies, it is only natural for Volvo Cars to offer its customers a safer environment even inside the car,” comments Anders Kärrberg, Environmental Director at Volvo Cars.

Volvo achieves its high interior air-quality standards by using selected materials and by ensuring the air entering the car's cockpit via the climate-control system is properly filtered. Volvo has been working for many years on creating a clean interior climate which is also suitable for people who are particularly sensitive, such as those suffering from asthma and allergies.

“The textiles and leather used in our cars meet stringent Oeko-Tex standard 100, which ensures that fabrics and hides have been thoroughly tested to check for certain allergy-inducing substances. We also work with contact allergies and are phasing out toxic substances such as certain phthalates. Volvo’s IAQS [interior air quality system] has also been developed to clean the air and reduce the risk of allergic reactions inside the car,” concludes Kärrberg.

The Ecology Center is an environmental protection organisation. The Ecology Center works to promote a clean and healthy environment, not least through education and the implementation of various projects.

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