Does a New Car Contain Formaldehyde?
3 Answers
New cars do contain formaldehyde. Here is some additional information: Definition: Formaldehyde is a widely used material found in various paints, plastics, and other products. Activated carbon purification: For formaldehyde inside the car, it is generally recommended to use activated carbon for purification. Nowadays, some air conditioning filters already contain activated carbon materials, which have a good adsorption effect on formaldehyde. However, it should be noted that although activated carbon has strong adsorption capacity, it cannot directly eliminate formaldehyde. If the temperature is too high or the adsorption reaches saturation, formaldehyde may be released again. Therefore, every 1 to 3 months, the activated carbon should be taken out, exposed to sunlight to restore its adsorption capability, and then reused.
I've driven quite a few new cars, and indeed, new cars often have formaldehyde issues. Materials like plastics, adhesives, and carpets used in manufacturing release volatile gases, and the new car smell is often caused by formaldehyde. In the short term, this stuff can make your nose uncomfortable and your eyes dry, and prolonged exposure may affect your health, especially when it's hot and the gas evaporates more. The solution is quite simple: after buying a new car, try to keep the windows open as much as possible for ventilation, park the car outside to let the sun speed up gas dissipation, or use some activated charcoal bags to absorb the odor. Generally, after driving for a week or two, the smell will fade significantly—just avoid staying in the car for too long right away. For safety, if you feel uncomfortable, it's also a good idea to buy an inexpensive car air quality monitor to check.
I was a bit worried about the strong smell when I first got my new car. After checking some information, I confirmed it was mainly formaldehyde coming from the materials of the seats and dashboard. From my experience, the smell was particularly noticeable in the first few days. I made sure to open the windows for half an hour in the morning and evening for ventilation, and I also kept the sunroof open while driving to allow air circulation. On weekends, I parked the car in direct sunlight and hung several bamboo charcoal bags inside to absorb the formaldehyde. The results were quite good—the smell significantly reduced in less than a month. When buying a car, choosing a model with good ventilation might help. Don’t forget that formaldehyde can be more harmful to sensitive groups like children, so I recommend airing out the new car for a while before letting family members stay inside for long periods.
