That New Car Smell Can Kill You and Your Kids

Do you like that 'new car smell.' That “new car smell” might be composed of all kinds of toxic chemicals, according to a new study from a nonprofit organization called the ecology center. This study suggests that new car smell comes from toxic chemicals off-gassing in a car’s interior, like brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chromium, and lead. In all, researchers identified more than 275 different chemicals wafting around in the car. Many of these toxic chemicals, breathed in by you and your kids are associated with learning problems, birth defects, liver problems and of course – cancer!

The 2012 new vehicle study from the nonprofit Ecology Center analyzed the chemical content of more than 200 new cars for its top 10 healthy and unhealthy car interiors. The 2012 Honda Civic had the healthiest interior but that was because it did not have any PVC fabrics or trims or bromine-based flame retardants.

The worst new cars, when it comes to off-gassing, are the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and 2011 Chrysler 200 SC, which both had high-levels of chemicals in them. These would be cars to avoid if you want to keep your children healthy.

So where do these poisons and toxins lurk inside the actual vehicle? Common areas that off gas are seats, arm rests, steering wheels, door trim, and shift knobs. The higher the temperature in the car the more chemicals it is going to release into the air. Chemicals found in some cars include chemical elements such as lead, cadmium, chlorine, arsenic, mercury, tin, and antimony. All of these chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and through the air.

The EPA says indoor air pollution is one of the top environmental threats to public health, since Americans spend 90% of their time indoors and indoor air pollution can be inside your car! Next to homes and offices, Americans spend the most time in automobiles, an average of one-and-a-half hours per day.

So it seems that if you are going to buy a car try to by one that does not smell so much like a new car as that would be an indication that it is going to break down less volatile compounds as time goes on. The smell would in fact, be an indication that you are about to buy a toxic vehicle. It is much better for you to stick to buying a vehicle that has been reported to have less off-gassing potential.

When Your Girl Wants to Be Like Barbie

It can be dismaying to hear from your little girl that she wants to look just like Barbie. She is not exactly a feminist icon. However she is not such a bad role model if you want to look at Barbie in terms of being a mover and a shaker who is motivated and practices good hygiene. In fact you can use the example of Barbie to teach your little girl about how to look good.

For instance, to look like Barbie your little girl has to have long hair. You can use the example of how well-cared for Barbie's hair must be to get so long and shiny. This helps teach your girl to wash, condition, comb out and style her own hair. There are also products you can buy that make hair shiny that are not toxic and that your child can simply smooth on her hair.

One thing to keep noting about Barbie is how clean she is. Tell her that Barbie takes a shower every day and brushes her teeth. She always washes her face and hangs up her clothes at the end of the day. Make your little girl feel the need to be organized in order to look good.

You can also teach your child how to put on sunscreen so she can have unblemished skin like Barbie. It is also a nice idea to teach your little girls how to moisturize or oil their skin after a bath so they can have smooth skin like Barbie too.

Barbie also gives your child a lot of ideas about how to wear make-up. Buy the bright oranges and pinks and the blue or green eye shadows that Barbie wears so she can identify with her look. A powder puff with translucent powder can also help your kid look fantastic. Most little girls who get to wear make-up like this become very happy.

You can also buy special make-up kits for younger girls that have the brand name Barbie on them. This prevents your child from making herself up to look like a whore. Older girls can shop with you for Barbie like colors so they learn how to buy make-up. If your kid is too young to wear lipstick you can buy them tinted lip balm.

Most Barbies have pink or coral colored nail polish on their fingers. You can spend quality time with your little girl by taking the time to apply nail polish with her.