Sep 26, 2007 1:16 am US/Pacific
Good Question: What Is That New-Car-Smell?
by Pallas Hupé
(CBS13)
It's a question Kevin Whitehead, a New Car Sales Manager hears regularly.
"They want to know where it comes from. Who puts it in," said Whitehead.
The answer requires a Chemistry Professor. Dr. Matt Augustine says the new car smell is a mix of volatile organic compounds, given off by the plasticizers and adhesives used to mold and glue together new car interiors.
"The vapors typically contain molecules and compounds like toluene, which is in model glue, acetone, which is a solvent sometimes found in fingernail polish. There are aldehydes. There are ketones, ketones are sweet smelling compounds," said Dr. Augustine.
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These compounds are at higher levels when the car rolls off the assembly line.
"It sort of gives the impression that they're not dry when you get that car," said Dr. Augustine, "The car is being sealed. It's sitting on the dealer lot sometimes for several months. The concentration of those compounds essentially builds up to an equilibrium level."
Dr. Augustine says there's no federal guideline as for whether it's healthy to breathe in. A recent study shows prolonged exposure can lead to headaches or make you feel nauseous.
"The concentration of those vapors decrease over time, so within about a month after you've bought your car, the concentration of those is really below harmful level," said Dr. Augustine.
The fact is, so many people do like the smell they buy air fresheners with new car smell.
Dr. Augustine says sometimes getting a car detailed can revive that new car smell because of the cleaners and sprays detailers use. Other countries have restrictions on the levels of volatile organic compounds in cars.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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