Is your Car Aggravating your Allergies?

The materials used in your car can cause allergies. Materials such as plastic, metals, dyes used in car, can cause allergies. Car seats can also attract dust and spores. About 45% of the American population suffers from some form of hypersensitivity. Hence, car makers are trying to manufacture cars which are more convenient for allergy sufferers.

The amount of time we spend in car has increased because of the long distances traveled, traffic and other factors. Hence it is important to choose a car which does not aggravate your allergies.

Make sure your car meets the requirements of Oeko-Tex 100 Standard. Oeko-Tex 100 Standard is an international testing and certification system for textiles. It limits the use of pesticides, allergenic dyes, and heavy metals in the textiles used in a car.

Volvo’s Effort to make Cars comfortable for Allergy sufferers:
Volvo has developed two systems for cars: CZIP (Clean Zip Interior Package) and IAQS (Interior air quality system). These systems ensure that the air in the passenger compartment is clean and free from allergens.

In Volvo, a team of eight experts smell-test every component in the car. The interior components are also put into the oven and are warmed at different temperatures. The experts smell the car and give the rating between one and six.

• Rating of One —unnoticeable
• Rating of Six —overpowering

If a component has rating of over three, then it would not be approved for production.

Volvo XC60, a new car released by Volvo, is recommended by Swedish Asthma and Allergy association. It has Good interior air quality. The amount of nickel released from metallic surfaces is minimized in the car.

Metals such as door handles, Volvo badges on steering wheel and gear knob release less nickel in Volvo XC60. For tanning the leather in the car, instead of chrome, a natural plant extract is used. The cars, S80, V70, and XC70 were also recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association.

Allergy suffers should identify if their allergies are aggravated by the components present in their cars. Apart from cleaning the car to keep it allergen free, buying a good car to prevent allergies is advisable.