"Toxic At Any Speed"

That "new car smell" you love so much? It's toxic. The interior of new cars has been found to contain dangerous levels of various chemicals, including phthalates which have been linked with birth defects and other serious health problems. The research group found that Volvo had the lowest levels of toxins and also had the toughest policies for phasing out the toxic chemicals. The chemicals contribute to the flame-retardancy of the interiors and auto manufacturers defend their use on the grounds that cars need to have the best possible flame-retardants available in case of accident. Read the article here.