Emissions from materials in car interiors: causes, responses and current legislative developments in Japan and China

摘要

All plastics and process materials (adhesive, sealer) basically have a potential for emissions. This is essentially due to the large number of additives and auxiliary materials which are required to ensure that the plastic or process material is suitable for use in the automobile. For many years now it has been the aim of German OEMs to reduce and keep these emissions at a very low level as part of a minimization strategy. To achieve this, standard testing methods and procedures have been developed within the context of an FAT-BMBF project. With the aid of selected examples from Volkswagen (vehicle models, components, materials) the development and reduction of emission behaviour is described. Although various studies have shown that the immissions exposure arising from vehicle use only makes up a fraction of the total immissions exposure of an individual, work on creating the corresponding statutory instruments is increasing worldwide. Current activity in Japan and China indicates that new vehicle testing methods need to be worked out, individual critical substances identified and these regulated on the basis of the normal living-room standards.