Motorists are being warned to think twice before pressing a common button in their car that could be doing more harm than good.
The inner circulation button - found in almost every vehicle may look harmless, but experts say it could actually put your health at risk. Many drivers switch it on automatically, especially in hot weather, to cool the car faster or keep out unpleasant smells from outside.
But according to experts at BigWantsYourCar.com, using it too often could lead to illness and even long-term health problems. “When a car has been left sitting in the sun, the materials inside the cabin release chemical compounds into the air.
"These include substances like formaldehyde which is commonly used as a preservative and is known to be toxic to humans."
Unlike standard ventilation, the inner circulation setting recycles the air already inside the car instead of drawing in fresh air from outside. While this might seem helpful for those with hay fever or allergies, it can have dangerous side effects.
“If the air is not expelled from the car, drivers may find themselves breathing in these harmful gases, even short exposure can lead to nausea or headaches and longer exposure is linked to far more serious health concerns.”
Formaldehyde has been classified as a human carcinogen and has been linked to cancers such as myeloid leukaemia and nasal cavity cancer.
“The safest step to take when entering a car that has been in the heat is to bring in fresh air before setting off, keeping the circulation button on can trap pollutants inside the vehicle and worsen the risk to your health.”
But there are ways to avoid pressing the button, experts explain, “Opening the windows or setting the ventilation to fresh air is a much better option for drivers and passengers,” they said.
Experts are urging motorists to avoid shortcuts that might seem convenient but could have hidden consequences, instead, they advise taking simple steps - like airing out your car before driving to protect your wellbeing and stay safe on the road.
