The Next Time You Want to 'Blast' Away, Think Twice...

Have you ever walked out of a car in a hot day ending up with an unbearable headache? A scientific research explains this. According to studies, the car dashboard, sofa, even the air freshener, emits benzene, a cancer causing toxic. When baked under the hot sun, the benzene level escalates. This chemical reaction though invisible, ought not to be ignored.

Benzene is the main toxin in the hydrocarbon fraction of exhaust. Benzene and other less known hydrocarbons are produced in petroleum refining, and are widely used as solvents and as materials in the production of various industrial products and pesticides.

A car parked indoor with the windows closed will contain 400-800 mg of Benzene. An acceptable level indoors is only 50 mg per square feet. When parked outdoors under the hot sun, the benzene level can exceed the acceptable level by 40 times!

Exposure to benzene can cause cancer, especially leukaemias and lymphomas. Benzene has a suppressive effect on bone marrow and it impairs blood cell maturation and amplification. In layman terms, benzene reduces your red blood cells over time.

Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness.

How do you avoid inhaling benzene then?

Our boss Mr. Patrick Tan advises you to wind down two diagonal windows (if you unwind the driver seat's window, do the same to the diagonal passenger seat window), BEFORE you turn on your air con. This way, a passage is created for air-flow, and this can blow away the accumulated benzene fumes.

The next time you step in to a heated-up car and wish to blast your air con away immediately, think twice. Your life is certainly worth much more than that few more drops of perspiration!