C-AHI evaluates the health effects of VOC&VOL vehicle interior volatile organic compounds and interior odors, EMR vehicle electromagnetic radiation, PM vehicle interior particulate matter, and VAR vehicle interior allergen risks, and proposes corresponding solutions.

　　New technologies, materials, and processes from automotive companies can all lead to VOC pollution and allergen risks in the interior of vehicles. Regarding the health of automotive interior materials, Li Qi, director of the Health Assessment Research Office of China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd., stated that C-AHI evaluates the health effects of vehicles through four aspects: VOC&VOL volatile organic compounds and odors, EMR vehicle electromagnetic radiation, PM particulate matter in vehicles, and VAR allergen risks, And propose corresponding solutions.

　　From 2017 to 2022, C-AHI has released more than 80 vehicle model evaluation results to the public, combined with internal research and use, totaling more than 300 vehicle models; Since the implementation of C-AHI work, it has promoted the investment and research and development of whole vehicle enterprises in healthy vehicles. The health hazards and comprehensive pollution value caused by "pentaphenyltrialdehyde" have decreased by 50%, the odor inside the vehicle has decreased by 0.5 levels, and the vehicle's ability to block and purify PM has significantly improved. More than 10 mainstream vehicle companies have incorporated the China Automotive Health Index into their vehicle interior environmental quality development standards, providing guidance for the development, manufacturing, testing, and dissemination of new vehicle interior environmental health.

　　Li Qi | Director of the Health Assessment Research Office of China Automotive Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd

　　The following is a summary of the speech content:

　　China Automotive Engineering Research Institute is affiliated with China Construction Corporation, and is a national third-party testing institution and a first-class research institute. Today, I will mainly share with you about the health effects of commonly used automotive interior materials and some control strategies for the health effects of automotive interior.

　　Introduction to VOC pollution and allergen risk in vehicles

　　With consumers' higher demands for luxury and comfort in cars, the application of traditional fabrics such as leather, PVC, PU, and genuine leather in car interiors has shifted towards the application of new technologies, materials, and processes, such as non-metallic materials and adhesives. This has also led to the accumulation of VOC pollutants in cars, seriously endangering human health. Among them, the concentrations of pentaphenyltrialdehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) are important indicators to measure the level of VOC pollutants in vehicles. The pollution of pentaphenyltrialdehyde and TVOC in cars will mainly affect the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system of drivers and passengers, and harm the internal organs, brain, and nervous system of people.

　　In terms of VOC pollution in vehicles, benzene and formaldehyde are internationally recognized as a class of carcinogen. We mainly investigated the risks of these two first class carcinogen to human health, and then combined with the requirements of the national standard, comprehensively checked the pollution level of pentaphenyltrialdehyde on the vehicle environment, including that TVOC is also in the VOC pollution range. According to the "Guidelines for Risk Assessment of carcinogen" issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the guidelines defined the methods and steps of health risk assessment. By estimating the probability of adverse effects of carcinogenic factors on the human body, evaluate the risk of health threats to individuals exposed to the carcinogenic factor.

　　Through the following formula, it can be found that besides conventional parameters, the health hazard value is only related to the concentration of benzene and formaldehyde in the car, including pentaphenyltrialdehyde.

　　Source: China Automotive Research Institute

　　Next, regarding the risks of allergens in the car. Originally, in China, regarding the concept of "risk of allergens" in car interiors, we mainly referred to the relevant research of the European Allergy Research Foundation, as the sensitivity of European and American populations is higher than that of our Asian population. The research results showed that after direct contact with the skin, heavy metals and dyes in car interiors and leather materials can cause irritation to the skin, sometimes only mild skin redness, swelling, or itching, Not receiving too much attention.

　　In 2020, we included the risk assessment of allergens in cars in the China Automotive Health Index. The main focus is on two aspects: one is the sensitization risk of interior decoration on human receptivity upon entry; The other is the risk of respiratory sensitization; In the future, it may be necessary to investigate the anti mite and anti mold properties of textiles.

　　In response to the concept of healthy cars, many companies have also introduced self-cleaning and self disinfecting interior materials, such as antibacterial steering wheels, armrest boxes, etc. The new applications of these materials are based on human health considerations, while eliminating the risk of sensitization.

　　Testing and evaluation of the health level of the car interior environment

　　As a national third-party testing institution, in order to lead the development of the industry and drive technological progress. Under the guidance of the International Association of Transportation Medicine and after 9 years of research, China Automotive Research Institute has launched the first overall evaluation standard for healthy cars in China, which can objectively evaluate the level of health hazards caused by the automotive interior environment, abbreviated as the "China Automotive Health Index".

　　The China Automotive Health Index is mainly divided into four major parts:

　　The first part is VOC&VOI volatile organic compounds and interior odors.

　　The second part is electromagnetic radiation from EMR vehicles. Nowadays, cars are in the era of electrification transformation, and there are significant risks of radiation in the initial stage of electric vehicles. Therefore, we have added considerations for vehicle electromagnetic radiation. Through years of evaluation and research, it has been found that electric vehicles do not have as much control over electromagnetic radiation levels as expected, and even some batteries have less radiation than traditional fuel vehicles.

　　The third part is PM particulate matter inside the vehicle. This is a survey with Chinese characteristics, which has slightly improved in recent years, especially the pollution caused by northern haze. The main focus is on the monitoring of automotive air conditioning filters. At the beginning of the epidemic, the CN95 health cabin was a related project we collaborated with the Chinese Enterprise Center to carry out.

　　The fourth part is the risk of allergens in VAR vehicles that I will focus on.

　　Next, I will provide a brief introduction to the evaluation and testing methods for each section.

　　In the VOC section, we have conducted comprehensive testing on three operating conditions, including the room temperature stage, the high temperature stage, and the ventilation stage, targeting the actual driving conditions. As summer approaches, the temperature inside the vehicle is extremely high under the direct sunlight, and the aldehydes and benzenes released during the exposure period have a significant impact on health; In addition, after getting on the car, especially in summer, the car door will be opened for rapid cooling, which will also release some volatile organic compounds. We will conduct an overall evaluation of the harm of these volatile compounds and odor intensity. Mainly based on subjective perception evaluation, VOC and odor assessment are conducted through odor evaluation method.

　　In the vehicle electromagnetic radiation section, a total of four operating conditions, three motion conditions, and one static mining condition were tested. Static mining refers to the evaluation of the electromagnetic radiation level of the driver's head, chest, crotch, and feet under three driving states of the vehicle, including constant speed, acceleration, and deceleration, when the communication module of the vehicle is in communication state, such as in car Bluetooth and wireless communication.

　　In the particulate matter sector, we have combined some experience from the home appliance industry and the space industry to build the first PM practical cabin for full vehicle passenger cars in China. It can be used to investigate the barrier of passenger cars to PM concentration at high concentrations; In addition, after being contaminated with PM, the air conditioning filter has the ability to purify PM pollution in the car, including the efficiency and speed of purification. Overall, it is to evaluate the sealing performance of the vehicle and the purification ability of the air conditioning system.

　　In the risk section of allergens, combined with Chinese characteristics, we introduce relevant research from abroad, such as steering wheel, seats, armrest boxes and other parts that are frequently contacted while driving. These skin materials are subjected to corresponding chemical tests, divided into two categories: contact sensitization risk and respiratory sensitization risk, for targeted investigation.

　　Source: China Automotive Research Institute

　　After sensitivity testing, we found that in terms of heavy metals, such as the use of a large number of leather interior materials nowadays, there is a significant difference between using leather without leather and leather with leather, because leather has a greater irritation to the skin, especially if it contains nickel, which can cause skin allergies.

　　After evaluating four major sectors, we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to assess the vehicle's star rating. From 2017 to 2022, our management center released evaluation results for over 81 vehicle models to the public. Every year, we select vehicles from the market for evaluation in four major sectors and publicly release the evaluation results. Especially as the carrier of the Healthy China strategy, the evaluation of Healthy Cars leads the progress and development of the entire industry.

　　Five Star Health Car Evaluation

　　Our original intention is to drive the development of the industry by selecting healthy cars. A five-star health car is a comprehensive concept. Through comprehensive evaluation of four sections, achieving a five-star rating in one section can earn a one star rating for the entire vehicle. A five-star health car means that each of the four evaluations meets the five-star standard.

　　Source: China Automotive Research Institute

　　On March 29th, at the Guangdong Automotive Health Environment Forum, we presented ten models of five-star health cars. We hope to promote the healthy development of the entire industry, including parts and main engine factories, through public welfare activities.

　　Strategies for Controlling Environmental Pollution in Automotive Interior

　　During the evaluation process, we also found that not all cars can reach the five-star level. It is necessary to identify the causes of pollution and corresponding control and improvement strategies. We have proposed corresponding solutions around the four major sectors mentioned above.

　　Firstly, it needs to be graded, from the entire vehicle to components to materials. Materials are automotive interiors, such as the matrix of materials. Based on relevant experience accumulation, targeted recommendations are made on the types of material matrix, small molecule additives, processing techniques, and post-treatment processes; On the components, use VOC traceability platform and measured data to lock high-risk components such as car seats, armrests, ceilings, steering wheels, carpets, etc; Professional experimental equipment and technical personnel are responsible for testing and improving vehicle level VOC concentration and interior odor.

　　The second improvement plan for the relevant control route. Thirdly, it is almost impossible to achieve a completely odorless interior odor. We need to detect and analyze odors, trace their roots through odorous substances, and improve processes or materials. Based on the odor contribution of odor activities, we have obtained a universal ranking. Our sample size is limited, and we are only providing some reference here.

　　We found that the odor amplitude decreased from the ceiling to the carpet, to the auxiliary dashboard, and then to the main dashboard. This can be provided as a reference for the host factory to conduct corresponding screening and control through such sorting.

　　Source: China Automotive Research Institute

　　As a national level testing center, we will continue to make efforts in the following areas in our future work: firstly, to promote the development of the industry; 2、 Enable the public to choose healthy cars, buy healthy cars, and use healthy cars amidst the wave of traffic. Fulfill our responsibilities and contribute to the national strategy of Healthy China for 2030.

　　(The above content is from Li Qi, Director of the Health Assessment Research Office of China Academy of Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd., who delivered a keynote speech on "Health Effects and Control Strategies of Commonly Used Automotive Interior Materials" at the 3rd 2023 Body and Interior Decoration Conference from April 18-19, 2023.)