New car smell: Why you shouldn’t love it

Don’t breathe that new car smell too deeply. (AP)

You know that wonderful new car smell?

Don’t inhale too deeply.

An environmental group is out with its annual review of the stuff your car interior is made of, and it’s kind of gross.

The inside of your car is mostly plastic held together with a various adhesives and sealers. Then you got your paint, carpeting, leather and vinyl treatments. All that stuff, when the car is first manufactured, is unstable, and they release organic compounds into the air afterward.

I don’t know whether it naturally smells good or whether it smells good because we just paid tens of thousands of dollars and it smells like luxury.

The Ecology Center, says the chemicals contribute to allergies, birth defects, liver toxicity and other problems.

So which cars are most likely to make you sick? The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the Chrysler 200 SC, and the Kia Soul.

The ones least likely to make you sick? The Honda Civic, the Toyota Prius, and the Honda CR-Z.

How do they know which are the worst?

They find out which materials are in each car and check their databases about the volatility and toxicity of those materials. They do not stick a gadget inside a closed car and then check the toxicity reading, and consult a gauge.

According to the Ecology Center, auto interiors are unregulated. Car makers can put any chemicals they want in there.

The good news is, they say the industry is working on replacing nasty car interiors with safer ones.

So what can we do? Scientists who have studied the chemicals released recommend keeping new cars well ventilated while driving, especially during the summer.

Read more on the details of the study.