Car parts found to contain toxic contents

Carcinogenic substances have been found in samples of cars parts, according to a study by an auto website and State broadcaster China Central Television.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, which can cause cancer, were found in vehicles including the Chang'an Alsvin, the Mitsubishi Outlander, Hyundai's New Santa Fe and the Chevrolet Aveo, said Xiu Yu, general manager of auto website Chewen.

Xiu said his website had received reports from car users complaining of unpleasant odors in their cars, and some people even felt dizzy after driving for a long time.

Since the middle of last year, Xiu had entrusted a car repair company in Beijing to order original auto parts including steering wheels and headrests of 44 types of vehicles.

Xiu had those auto parts examined by Centre Testing International and found most of them contained PAHs.

Shanghai GM, General Motors' joint venture in China, said in a statement on Monday that testing in September found no PAHs in Aveo's parts and the company doubted the authenticity of the parts tested by Chewen.

Chang'an, based in Chongqing, released a statement online saying the company is investigating the claims made in the report.

China has no standard for the content limit of PAHs in auto products, so people do not know how harmful the chemical can be, Xiu said.

In Germany, the limit is 10 mg/kg for adults, and 0.2 mg/kg for children under 3.

"Babies could possibly touch those parts so it would be harmful for them," said Xiu.