Cars can be a health hazard

A company in the United States has released a report on the toxic chemicals your typical vehicle releases - with the Honda Civic topping the list as the "healthiest" car while Mitsubishi's Outlander is at the bottom.

It is the fourth consumer guide to toxic chemicals in vehicles from the Ecology Centre.

The results are on the centre's website, HealthyStuff.org.

More than 200 of the most popular 2011- and 2012-model vehicles were tested, using a portable x-ray fluorescence analyser for chemicals that release gas from parts such as the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests and seats.

These chemicals contribute to "new car smell" and, according to Ecology Centre, cause a variety of acute and long-term health concerns.

In the US, toxic chemical exposure inside vehicles can be a major source of indoor air pollution.

"Research shows that vehicle interiors contain a unique cocktail of hundreds of toxic chemicals that [release] gas in small, confined spaces," says Jeff Gearhart, research director at the Ecology Centre.

"Since these chemicals are not regulated, consumers have no way of knowing the dangers they face. Our testing is intended to expose those dangers - and encourage manufacturers to use safer alternatives."

Chemicals of primary concern include: bromine (associated with brominated flame retardants); chlorine (indicating the presence of polyvinyl chloride, or PVC); lead and heavy metals.

Such chemicals have been linked to a wide range of health problems such as allergies, birth defects, impaired learning, liver toxicity and cancer.

The Civic achieves its ranking by being free of bromine-based flame retardants in all interior components, utilising PVC-free interior fabrics and interior trim, and having low levels of heavy metals and other metal allergens.

The Mitsubishi Outlander contains bromine and antimony-based flame retardants in the seating and centre console, chromium treated leather on several components, and lead in seating materials.

Vehicles assembled in Asia utilised significantly less PVC in vehicle components.

But cars assembled in Europe used the most PVC, more than double the amount in other parts of the world.