The auto industry is an important part of the US economy, generating over $1.5Tn a year. This is about 3% of total GDP, despite only employing 1.3% of the active workforce. This means auto workers are a critical part of the US economy. But despite this, some workers in the automotive sector are poorly paid. Moreover, their job exposes them to a whole range of toxic substances that can adversely affect their long-term health. Here, we look at some of these chemicals and their effects on human health.
There are a whole range of toxic chemicals used in automobile production, falling into several categories. Here, we look at 3 categories in more detail:
- Toxic metals, including lead and lithium
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Other volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Each of these categories poses a different level of risk to human health. Read below to learn more about each of these categories. Please note that this web site does not provide medical advice and is for informational or educational purposes only. The contents of this web site do not constitute provision of medical advice or medical professional services.
Toxic metals
A variety of toxic metals are used in the automotive industry today. It may surprise you to learn that modern vehicles still rely on toxic metals like lead, despite its phase-out from US gasoline and consumer paints in the 1970s. Other toxic metals like cadmium and chromium are still used as well, leading to poisoning incidents in car paint shop workers. These and other toxic metals are all known to cause significant health impacts. While legislation is seeking to phase some of them out, there will be ongoing use of various toxic metals in automotive manufacturing.
Lead
The auto industry is a major consumer of lead. It is used in a wide range of applications, including lead-acid batteries, lead weights for wheel balancing, and even occurs in some electrical components. This makes the auto industry the largest source of lead pollution in the US, due primarily to its heavy dependence on lead-acid batteries. And while there are alternatives to lead, replacing it with less-toxic metals is not expected to occur quickly. Lead poisoning can affect numerous parts of the body, and acute symptoms typically involve abdominal pain, constipation, headache, issues with memory and cognition, nerve pain or tingling in extremities, muscle fatigue or joint pain, and insomnia.
Lithium
Lithium is a major component in EV and hybrid vehicle batteries, and its use in the automotive industry is expected to grow by 14% to 30% annually through 2030. Both the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries as well as their use in the automotive manufacturing process pose significant toxicity risks to automotive workers. Under certain circumstances, lithium-ion batteries could burn or overheat, releasing not only lithium metal or ions, but also other harmful gasses. Lithium can cause all sorts of symptoms as a result of acute lithium toxicity, including loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, muscle weakness, twitching, tremors, blurred vision, loss of coordination, confusion, seizures, slurred speech, and lethargy.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
PFAS are a huge family of man-made chemicals that have been used for decades thanks to their unique properties. These include being non-stick, stain-repellant, waterproof, and grease resistant. Recently, attention has increasingly focused on the negative health impacts of PFAS. These range from testicular and kidney cancer to infertility and developmental problems. A modern car uses a whole host of these compounds in various applications:
- Lubricants: PFAS compounds are added to lubricants due to their superior ability to reduce friction.
- Upholstery treatments: Car upholstery and carpets are often sprayed with PFAS-based stain repellent coatings.
- Lithium ion batteries: all hybrid and full-electric vehicles use lithium ion batteries. These are known to contain bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides, a specific sub-type of PFAS compounds.
- Heat-proof wiring: Modern vehicle wiring harnesses are often protected from heat with PFAS coatings.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are a class of chemicals that readily evaporate into the air and thus can be easily breathed in. The distinctive “new car” smell is made up of a cocktail of VOCs given off by all the plastics and foams used inside a modern vehicle. During vehicle manufacturing and maintenance, VOCs are given off by welding (as “fumes”) and other processes. They are also emitted from lubricants, hydraulic brake fluid, and many other sources. VOCs can cause both short and long term health effects. These range from mild headaches, through nausea and vomiting, to long-term central nervous system damage.
What next for toxins in the auto industry?
Over recent years, legislators have increasingly tried to reduce the use of toxic substances in manufacturing. However, all too often the rules are prescriptive and ban specific named compounds. The typical industry response is to just find an alternative and closely-related material that may still be toxic. Meanwhile, auto workers are left to fend for themselves when it comes to dealing with the impacts from these toxins.
Relentless Health has developed a PFAS test to enable anyone to check their expsore to PFAS, including those in the automotive manufacturing industry. Learn more about the PFAS test and what steps you can take to reduce your PFAS risk on our website.
