40% of car air quality exceeded

Recently, China Consumers Association and the Consumer Council of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province issued a special investigation report on the 2014 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in passenger cars. The report shows that of the 51 domestic cars participating in the sample survey, 20 vehicles exceeded the standard limit, accounting for 39.2%.

The Consumers Association report pointed out that the analysis of test data above the limit of harmful substances, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in most cases. Aldehydes and ketones accounted for 61% of the ratio.

It is understood that in recent years, the National Association of Consumers Association has been receiving complaints about VOCs related to in-car air. In addition, complaints about Mercedes-Benz odors have also been received on the People's Motor Vehicles Quality Complaint Platform (People's Daily Auto Quality Complaint Platform). CCTV had previously reported on odor problems in the car. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the other two German luxury car brands, Audi and BMW, were found to have poisonous effects on the human body due to volatile substances in the car's damper.

How to prevent harmful substances in the car?

1. To be fully ventilated and even properly exposed to sunlight, so that the VOCs in the material can be fully released;

2. During driving, maintain a suitable temperature, it is recommended to be less than 25 °C;

3. Keep automotive air-conditioners clean; do not use inferior material interiors or counterfeit perfumes, and reduce the use of cleaners to clean leather goods, so as not to bring new sources of VOCs pollution;

4. Car repair and maintenance, especially the use of environmentally friendly materials as much as possible when painting, to reduce the impact of VOCs on physical health.

Factors affecting the air in the car:

1. New car VOCs risk is generally higher than the old car. 20 vehicles with test values ​​above the limit, most of the mileage

2. VOCs test data is higher than dynamic mode in static mode. Each vehicle has been tested statically and dynamically, and the static and dynamic test data of 4 vehicles are all higher than the national standard limit, in which static data are more dynamic than dynamic data.

3. Low temperatures help to control the volatilization of VOCs. Due to driving air conditioning, maintaining low temperature, is conducive to VOCs control. Of the 20 vehicles above the limit, from the data point of view, most (17) are static above the limit, and 3 are dynamic above the limit. The probable reason is that during the on-site sampling, the static temperature is higher than the dynamic one. Because the static mode engine and air conditioning are all in the closed state, do not make any adjustments to the car temperature; and dynamic mode to open the engine, open the air conditioning and internal circulation, mainly to simulate the driver during driving a temperature appropriate driving environment .

4. Regular cleaning of the air conditioner is beneficial to VOCs control. Dynamic is open air conditioning, internal circulation. The low temperature is favorable, but the engine and the air conditioner itself may cause certain VOCs to be released during the work process, which will also have a certain impact on the air in the vehicle. Therefore, regular cleaning of the air conditioner is beneficial to VOCs control.

5. There is no direct relationship between vehicle type and VOCs release. The number of SUVs and cars in this test data is higher than the limit.

Science: What are VOCs?

According to the China Consumers Association, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the general term for volatile organic compounds with a melting point below room temperature and a boiling point between 50°C and 260°C. They contain a variety of carcinogens known to be harmful to the human body, such as: Benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, etc. At present, there are a large number of man-made materials in ordinary passenger cars. If these materials contain and release VOCs, together with the small and completely enclosed space in the vehicle, and the vehicles are usually operated in a high-temperature outdoor environment, they will make Become a high-risk area.