The scent of a new car can be enticing in showrooms, and even intoxicating in its appeal. That new car smell comes from an assortment of chemicals, some of which can be highly toxic.

The source of the bouquet so many buyers find appealing is in the various solvents, adhesives, plastics, rubbers and fabrics used in car construction. Many of these contain volatile organic compounds, some of which can be deadly in sufficient quantities. Others are just bad for you.

“It’s a chemical cocktail made up of lots of toxins,” said Jeff Gearhart, research director of the Ecology Center in the U.S. state of Michigan. The Ecology Center has been monitoring and testing chemical levels in car interiors for years, and has noted some improvement. But Gearhart says there is still work to be done.

“There are over 200 chemical compounds found in vehicles,” he said. “Since these chemicals are not regulated, consumers have no way of knowing the dangers they face.”

Just reading a list of the substances is scary enough, and makes your car’s interior sound like a hazmat hall of fame. Benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and heavy metals are all part of the mix. And the danger of exposure is scarier still. Immediate symptoms can range from a sore throat to headaches, dizziness, allergic reactions and nausea, depending on the sensitivity of an individual.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, continued exposure to some of these can lead to hormonal disruption, reproductive impacts and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system — or even cancer.

The danger is greatest when the car is new, and that new car smell is most noticeable. This is when components are still unstable and prone to what is called off-gassing — the release of chemical vapors, which leads to the odor. Heat from a vehicle left in the sun can make matters worse, and speed up the chemical reaction. The danger is reduced over time, and experts say the worst is usually over within about six months.

展厅中的新车会散发出迷人的气味，令人陶醉。这种味道来自多种化学产品的混合物，其中一些还具有很高的毒性。

这种让众多买家感到好闻的香味源于生产汽车所使用的各种溶剂、粘合剂、塑料、橡胶和纤维。其中许多成分还含有挥发性有机化合物，如果大剂量的接触某些成分会致命，其他一些只是对身体不好。

美国密歇根州生态中心研究室主任杰

夫•吉尔哈特说：“这是由许多毒物混合而成的化学鸡尾酒”。生态中心近年来一直在监测并检验汽车内部的化学物质水平，而且已经看到了一些进展，但是吉尔哈特称，还有不少工作要做。

他说：“汽车内部有两百多种化学混合物。因为这些化学物质不受监管，所以消费者无从知晓自己面临的危险”。

仅仅是读一下这些化学物质的名单就够吓人的了，你的汽车听起来就像是危险物的名品堂。苯、甲苯、甲醛和重金属都名列其中。而且，接触这些化学物质带来的危险更加可怕，可能会即刻产生咽喉肿痛、头痛、眩晕、过敏反应、恶心等症状，症状根据每个人的敏感程度不尽相同。

据美国环保署称，持续与其中一些化学物质接触可能导致荷尔蒙紊乱、生殖功能下降，对肝、肾、中枢神经系统造成破坏— 甚至引发癌症。

新车的气味最明显，对健康的危害也最大。因为新车中的化学成分还不稳定，容易进行所谓的“逸散”— 即化学气体挥发，产生气味。太阳下暴晒会使情况更糟，因为高温会加速化学反应。汽车使用时间越长，危害越小，专家称最严重的时候就是新车购买后头六个月。

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

   【醉人的】zuìrén de intoxicating exhilarating, exciting

    【危险品】wēixiǎnpǐn hazmat hazardous materials and items