Fingertip Tax Facts

[Abby Normal]

I can't believe how much you all like inhaling chemical off-gassing of plastics and other materials. I try to avoid those chemicals at all cost in every product I use.

[FDNY]

Well, now that you brought that up I'd like to mention something about the new car smell.  Years ago, one of my fireman came down with a rare cancer at 46 y/o.  No known cause but we thought it had something to do with a fire we had in a hospital's X Ray room where there was some radioactive iodine.  He became our research specialist on cancer causes and he impressed on us to always open your windows for a couple of minutes to air out the car, especially in the summer.  The plastics and vinyl give off VOCs, Volatile Organic Compounds, vaporizing especially when heated...hence, part of your new car smell.   Those VOCs are nasty,  containing benzene, chlorine, fluorine, among others.

So don't take any deep breaths when you get into the new car, as much as it gives you a good feeling, fresh air is always better.  BTW, that fireman didn't live much longer, I miss him.  Thanks Abby, you made a good point.

[Catherine]

3 hours ago, FDNY said:

The plastics and vinyl give off VOCs

And the monomers from those coat the inside of the windshield - which is where that icky film comes from.  And it's so hard to get off because those monomers want to polymerize so they're trying it with your windshield!  (Bet you never knew what scandalous activities were going on right in front of your face!)

[FDNY]

I tried everything to get that off the inside of the windshield, you need to be a gymnast to get it clean enough for a tax preparer's standards.