Question from Cat
Hello, Yesterday my husband realized his tire was flat so he took my car to the shop with the tire in the trunk for repair. He then used my car to go to work. Today, when he went to pick it up he realized it was not able to be repaired so they mounted a new tire for him, so he could get to work. He put the new tire on the wheel in the trunk of my new car. As we were pulling out of the tire shop I became worried. The tire was in the trunk and I really couldn’t smell it, but he didn’t put anything down in the trunk of my new car and as we drove I worried that the fumes would collect in the trunk and seep into the cab of the car. I am newely pregnant and a bit paranoid. I made him vacume the trunk out and then I placed a blanket down in the trunk before taking the car shopping…should I be worried I was exposed to chemicals in the transpport of the tire and using the trunk after?
Debra’s Answer
Tires are made of synthetic rubber, which do outgass a fair amount of pretty toxic chemicals, including benzene, toluene, and xylene (and about seventy others). These chemicals can cause harm to developing fetuses. However, the amount you were exposed to makes a difference.
From your description, it sounds like you weren’t exposed to much emissions, if any, however I would stay away from tire stores, where there would be a lot of these chemicals in the air.
By the way, here is the full list of toxic chemicals found in tire emissions:
Well, the original got lost during one of my transfers from website to website. So here are some new updated lists:
Note 37: Volatile Organic Emissions from Automobile Tires
HEaLTHY BUILDING NETWORK: Avoiding Contaminants in Tire-Derived Flooring
HUFFINGTON POST: Scrap Tire Playgrounds Lighten Landfills, But Raise Cancer Fears
While I am all for doing things that help the environment, this is a prime example of how an action can be both green and toxic at the same time.
I was recently in a new tire store and noticed a very strong offensive rubber tire smell due to a large amount of tires being stored in the area where customers wait. Is being exposed to these fumes for over an hour unhealthy for customers? Is being exposed to tire fumes unhealthy for workers who are exposes daily over a period of years? Would you please send me a list of the chemicals released by new tires? Are the chemicals safe for humans to breathe?
Have there been any studies by the health department on the air quality of new tire stores?
I added the lists of chemicals released by new tires. They are NOT safe for humans to breathe. As far as I know, no studies about emissions in tire stores.
You said “I would stay away from tire stores, where there would be a lot of these chemicals in the air”. Two questions:
1. What is the source of the list of toxic chemicals you listed, and where can one find more details of such toxins and their impact on human health. What about a more comprehensive list, along with references?
2. What is your take on synthetic turf fields with shredded tire in-fills that are popping up left and right and are replacing natural grass fields. Note that much of the tire shred gets stuck in people clothes or their shoes and taken away by those playing on the fields, and carried away into their homes and the surrounding environment, and they would have to be replenished on a regular basis.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
Source: http://www.sisweb.com/referenc/applnote/app-37a.htm
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I’m actually working on more details of such toxics and their impact on human health along with a more comprehensive list with references. It is being compiled right this moment. In the mean time, you can look up any of the chemicals on the list you are interested in just by typing each one in google.
I’m not in favor of shredded tire anything, or recyclling tires for shoes, handbags, flooring, or anything else. While it’s good to recycle, if you recycle a toxic product it still is toxic. Anything made from tires has these chemicals in it, offgassing into the air and into your lungs.