Crucial Thing You Should Do Before You Turn The A/C On In Your Car

When we get into a car on a hot day, the first thing we want to do is turn on the air conditioning and pump it up— but there’s a simple step we should take first. It’s not only important to do for the longevity of your car, but for your health as well. Healthy Life Tricks is here to tell us what to do: open our windows. Why? Because of the benzene.

What’s benzene? It’s a natural but toxic compound that has been linked to cancer, accumulates in our kidneys, liver and bone tissue, and is difficult for our bodies to eliminate. When a car sits in the sun with the windows closed – as they should be, certainly! – benzene builds up in the hot air that’s just circulating in the enclosed car. Studies suggest it’s linked to the hard plastic of the seats. If temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, there can be up to 40 times the permitted level of the compound.

So where does the air conditioner come into this problem? Think about how it feels when you first turn it out— it’s not immediately cool, but instead expelling warm air. That warm air contains benzene. So the simple solution: roll down your windows before you turn on the A/C! The fresh air will roll in, the hot air will roll out, and your car will reach a healthier equilibrium.

Now, the exact danger of benzene can get overstated – check out more information here from the American Cancer society – but since the solution is so simple and easy and gets you some fresh air, it certainly can’t hurt as a precaution! Have you ever heard this advice before? Check out more on the subject from Healthy Life Tricks’ original post and tell us what you think.