The average American spends 1.5 hours a day in their car. That number may even be higher for you. Our cars, especially with the windows rolled up, become a small contained environment. The particles in the interior air of your vehicle get recycled in and out of your lungs, and your body. But what exactly are you breathing in with that new car smell?

Welcome to Fatal Conveniences™

This is a bite-sized segment that parallels The Darin Olien Show. In these segments, we get into society's Fatal Conveniences™. I define these as the things we may be doing because the world we live in makes us believe we have to. These things save us time and trick us into thinking they're actually good for us. But it's those same things that are breaking down our health and the health of the environment around us.

I've spent most of my adult life obsessively researching these "conveniences." On every show, I pick one topic, and we dive into it. My goal is to make you more aware of these traps so that you can push back on them. Remember, it starts with you and the choices you make. 

So, if you're willing to look at your world from a different perspective and make little tweaks that amount to big changes, then this segment is for you.

That new car smell is actually a toxic chemical cloud.

When you open your new car door for the first time and take a deep breath in, that new car smell triggers positive thoughts. We’ve been conditioned to love that smell. Our brains associate it with success, accomplishment, and of course, a fancy new car. If you can separate your preconceived feelings about this smell, you might notice it’s actually quite gross! A new car smell is a potent mix of overpowering chemical scents that have nothing positive to offer us.

In this Fatal Conveniences™ segment, I get into the chemicals that create this potent new car smell. The main culprits are VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds. I break down what these are and the three VOCs you should be aware of as it pertains to your vehicle. I go over the harsh effects these toxins have on our health. And of course, I give you some tips on how to cut down the potency of these chemicals and how to avoid them altogether. If you spend a lot of time in your ride, you’re going to want to take a listen to this one.

 

Other great info in this segment:

• What are VOCs?
• What’s “car fluff,” and how does it add to that new car smell?
• What other vehicle components contribute to that toxic scent?
• What’s off-gassing?
• Which car manufacturers are working to cut down on toxics in vehicles?
• What can you do to eliminate that smell?
• What states or countries are creating new regulations to protect us?

Links & Resources:

BBC - Is new-car smell bad for your health?

EcoCenter - New Car Study 2012

WebMD - Is that “new car smell” toxic?

How to Offgas a New Car

Netflix’ Down To Earth’ Official Trailer

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The Darin Olien Show is produced by the team at Must Amplify. If you’re looking to give a voice to your brand, and make sure that it’s heard by the right people, head to www.mustamplify.com/darin to see what Amplify can do for you.