Matthew Griffin
Technical Specialist
Jaguar & Land Rover Materials Engineering
May 2007

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
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PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
The chemical emissions from materials are responsible for the desirable “new car smell”,
Acetaldehyde
Toluene
Fo rm ald eh yd e
Hyd rocar bo ns
Est ers
Ke ton es
Amines

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
Some of these substances have been reported to have an adverse affect on the occupant at elevated levels.

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Concerns raised in mid 1990’s
> Lincoln Continental studied – in excess of 50 volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) found inside cabin.
• In 2001 Study by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Association), Australia
> Looked at anecdotal evidence equivalent to Sick Building
Syndrome
> Identified several VOC’s that have a potentially adverse effect on human health
> Linked VOC emissions to anecdotal evidence

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
Media Release - Ref 2001/290 - Dec 19 , 2001
New car drivers exposed to toxic emissions
New car headaches may involve more than minor warranty problems.
Research by CSIRO has found high levels of air toxic emissions in new motor vehicles for up to six months and longer after they leave the showroom.
Dr Steve Brown, head of CSIRO's Air Quality Control research says, "Just as air inside our homes and workplaces is often much more polluted than the air outside, so sitting in a new car can expose you to levels of toxic emissions many times beyond goals established by Australia's National Health & Medical
Research Council (NHMRC)".
During its two-year study using three new motor vehicles from three weeks of their delivery to purchasers, CSIRO became aware of anecdotal reports, such as:
•A solicitor who was ill for several days (headache, lung irritation, swelling) after collecting a new locally built car and driving it for only 10 minutes (the solicitor eventually swapped it for an 18-month-old car, which did not have any effect on her health)
•A government worker who felt ill when driving new government cars during the first 6 months after their delivery
•A chemically sensitised person who felt "spaced out' when in any new car
•A salesman who regularly updated his locally built car and found he became lethargic on long trips (e.g. from Melbourne to Geelong) when the car was new
Dr Brown says, "Measurements made during the CSIRO study found total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentrations were initially very high (up to
64,000 micrograms per cubic metre) in two Australian-made cars which reached the market 3-10 weeks after manufacture".
Controlled exposures of human subjects by other researchers to a 22-compound mixture at concentrations of less than half this have produced effects within minutes, such as subjective reactions (odour, discomfort, drowsiness, fatigue/confusion), eye/nose/throat irritation, headache and (in symptomatic subjects) neuro-behavioural impairment.
Brown says, "These levels decreased by approximately 60% in the first month, but still much exceeded the NHMRC indoor air goal of 500 micrograms per cubic metre".
The third car was imported, reaching the market four months after manufacture when the concentration of TVOCs was 2000 micrograms per cubic metre.
"This is still four times more than the recommended goal and remains a concern," says Dr Brown.
Air toxics being emitted inside new cars during the CSIRO study and the effects they may cause include:
•Benzene - a known human carcinogen for which an annual exposure goal of 16 micrograms per cubic metre has been recommended in the UK
•Acetone - a mucosal irritant
•Cyclohexanone - a possible human carcinogen
•Ethylbenzene - a systemic toxic agent
•MIBK - a systemic toxic agent
H t i t

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Substances of concern identified by CSIRO
> Benzene - a known human carcinogen for which an annual exposure goal of 16 micrograms per cubic metre has been recommended in the UK
> Acetone - a mucosal irritant
> Cyclohexanone - a possible human carcinogen
> Ethylbenzene - a systemic toxic agent
> MIBK - a systemic toxic agent
> n-Hexane - a neurotoxic agent
> Styrene - a probable human carcinogen
> Toluene - a central nervous system dysfunction agent
> Xylene isomers - a foetal development toxic agent

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA)
> Reviewed several studies highlighting VOC concentration within automobiles
> Concentrations exceed WHO guidelines
> Agreed voluntary targets that JAMA members WILL meet for
VOC concentrations inside the cabin.
> Voluntary agreement came into effect 1 st April, 2007

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Following on from JAMA’s lead
> CHINA has signalled intent to legislate VOC emissions from interior materials Legislation proposed for 2008
> Korea has identified targets for voluntary requirements
> Staged introduction, starting in 2009.
> Requirements differ with respect to temperature (has a large effect on emissions)

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Testing Issues
> Different Markets have different testing requirements
• E.g. Temperature!
> Assessment of more than one factor:
• VOC emissions and Air Con efficiency.
> Different / preclusive analytical controls
• Draft proposals for certain markets impose unimportant controls precluding same equipment / conditions being used from one evaluation to another.
• Recommend following established ISO methods

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• What are JLR doing?
> Premium Automotive Research and Development Programme
(PARD) Project agreed – May 2005
> Specialist equipment installed September 2005
• Gas Chromatograph / Mass Spectrometer
• Thermal Desorption Unit
> Method Development / vehicle analysis – up to Q1, 2006
> Comprehensive analysis (20 vehicles) to JAMA spec: June –
September 2006 (vehicles tested within 4 weeks of production)
> Component method development and analysis in tandem

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
5
JAMA Testing Protocol
Pre-conditioning
40
Open the door for 30min
Closed mode
（ formaldehyde ）
Radiator lamp on
4.5hr
About 5.5hr
23 sampling
Cabin
B/G
30mi n
Driving mode
（ VOC ､ acetaldehyde)
Air conditioner
SW on
30min 15min
15min

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Car Results
L322 interior emissions at 40C

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Car Results

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Car Results

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Component / Material Analysis
> “Standard” material tests for formaldehyde – not sensitive enough for whole vehicle requirements.
> Analysis via micro thermal emission chamber (u-CTE)
> Advantages over alternative techniques (VDA 276)
• Reproducibility
• Cost
• Close control of surface area / volume relationship
• Speed

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Component / Material Analysis
> TPJLR being written for material emission thresholds to enable vehicles to meet JAMA requirements
> Not suitable to assess complete systems
• Engineering plastics for gears / levers often made of acetals, not located at component surface

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
Collection tube:
DNPH for carbonyls
TENAX TA for VOC's
Sample (40 mm OD)
Air inlet (flow = 20 ml/min)
Constant Headspace
Heated Chamber (40 ° C)

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
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Component Results
Carpet sample

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Component Results

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Comparisons – Components with vehicle
L322
Carpet
Ambla
Door casing
Glove Box lid
Topper Pad
Leather

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• VOC analysis - More Robust than traditional odour assessment
> Odour:
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Purely subjective
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No evidence
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No retrospective interrogation of results
> VOC Analysis:
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Not subjective
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Scientific measurement
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Results can be interrogated retrospectively

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
• Component case study
> Odour:
• Supplier conducts tests
• Samples “Pass” - No evidence
• JLR analysis – samples fail
> VOC Analysis:
• Cause of failure – excessive amine concentration
Large Peak on sample trace
Library search – methyl pyrrolidinone

PARD Vehicle Interior Air Quality Seminar
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