To most masses , the smell of anew caris queerly enticing . Though it ’s difficult to nail precisely what it is that makes the aroma so distinct , plenty ofair fresheners and sprayshave tried to retroflex it . But what exactly is that aroma ?
Despite its crispness , the feel of a steel - new auto is far from rude . It ’s actuallythe resultof the waiver or “ off - gassing ” of numerous chemical compound in the credit card , key , lubricants , sealants , plasticizers , and various other materials that are used to manufacture an car ’s interior and exterior .
Carsare made to last — last bumps and scratches while upholding a silky visual aspect . To accomplish this , they ’re constructed with textile that provide minimum corrosion , which usually imply a variety of high - performance vinyls and plastics . These fabric are highly efficacious in bear on the interiors of a car : polyurethane , for example , is a tough pliable material that is immune to temperature and abrasion from weather , radiation , and most solvents , whilepolyethylene terephthalate(more ordinarily known as polyester ) is used for wiper arm , engine covers , and connexion housings . These materials , as well as many others , all impart to thatnew car tone .
Although the scent smells heavenly to many , it can be astoxicas it is intoxicating . The volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ) released from such material have a eminent vapour pressure as well as depleted boiling points , which causes large numbers of molecule to disappear into the air . In fact , scientific studieshave been conducted to test whether or not these smell are concentrated enough to create any health risks — either short- or long - term . Some of these volatile chemical , the same ones that are commonly found in paints and glues , may leadto dizziness , allergic reactions , or headache if you ’re scupper to orotund quantity for long enough periods of metre .
Fortunately , most of theVOCsin a car ’s interior dissipate over prison term and can be released from the elevator car by simply rolling down a windowpane and allowing fresh zephyr to circulate .
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A version of this clause was originally published in 2016 ; it has been updated for 2024 .
