Many people drive their cars every day, however, a few people know that it can negatively affect health. Even less people know the ways driving a car can make them sick. Though, there are lots of benefits of having a car: it’s your personal karaoke booth, the most convenient way to get the place you need, and a good place to be alone with your thoughts. But maybe it’s time to sell your car for cash? Here are some downsides and potential threats of driving a car:

1. You can make bad drink choices 
Road excursions often necessitate on-the-go snacks and beverages. And a long stretch of highway might make you tired, so it's no surprise that when you stop to stretch your legs and eat food, you're lured to a caffeinated, sweet cola. However, if you choose the 32-ounce Coke, you risk being ill.

Consumption of sodas and sports drinks, according to a study published in Circulation, an American Heart Association magazine, is linked to an increased risk of mortality from heart disease, particularly among women. The bigger the danger, the more sugary drinks you take every day.

2. New car smell is toxic 
If you're like most people, you adore the "new car smell." There are even automotive air fresheners that try to replicate this scent so you can feel like your automobile just left the showroom. However, the compounds that give off this new automobile odor are hazardous and can make you sick.

The Ecology Center conducted research that looked at the air quality in over 200 new autos. There were over 275 compounds found in these cars, owing to the usage of new materials in the interior construction. Lead, chromium, and brominated flame retardants were among the most dangerous compounds discovered (BFRs). These chemicals have been related to liver issues, cancer, birth defects, and learning disabilities.

3. You sit for too long 
You sit on the way to work, for eight hours, in your office, in traffic on the way home, and then you sit to eat supper and catch up on Succession before going to bed. It's possible that all of this sitting is killing you. According to a study published in Diabetologia, most sedentary adults have a 22 to 49 percent higher chance of dying young, owing to their higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Sitting too much and leading a sedentary lifestyle can raise your risk of type 2 diabetes by 112% and heart disease by 147 percent.

4. You’re being exposed to toxic cleaners 
You're not alone if you're obsessed with a flashy car. According to Dun & Bradstreet research, there are 16,000 car wash establishments in the United States, with a total yearly sales of $9 billion. The cleansers used on the interior are vital whether you wash your car yourself or take it to a local car wash.

When you sit in your car, you come into contact with these freshly cleaned surfaces and inhale airborne contaminants from the cleansers employed. These cleaners may include strong chemicals such as:

Butoxyethanol. This contaminant is found in several window cleaners and can cause throat irritation. It can increase your risk of kidney or liver damage in extreme cases.

Perchloroethylene is a kind of perchloroethylene (PERC). This chemical, which is mostly found in upholstery cleaners, is listed as a "possible carcinogen" by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Phthalates. Phthalates can be found in air fresheners, and prolonged exposure to these compounds can induce endocrine disruption. The CDC discovered in a 2003 investigation that men with greater levels of phthalate chemicals in their blood had lower sperm counts.

5. You can develop depression 
It's possible that your commute is contributing to a lower level of enjoyment in your daily life. According to research conducted by the UK Office of National Statistics, commuters have:
- They have a diminished sense that their daily tasks are worthwhile
- Life satisfaction is lower
- Happiness levels are lower
- Anxiety levels are higher

The length of a person's commute had a direct impact on their satisfaction. Even within the first 15 minutes of a commute, anxiety levels soared and enjoyment levels plummeted, according to the same study. Commuters who had to suffer daily driving times of 61 to 90 minutes had the most detrimental impact on their satisfaction. Chronic sadness can result in depression, which can cause a slew of additional health issues, including changes in appetite and weight, as well as trouble sleeping.

6. There is mold in your A/C vents 
Your car's air conditioning vents are in charge of blowing cold or hot air to maintain a pleasant interior temperature. They're probably aimed straight at your face so you can take advantage of the convenience. However, you could be inhaling mold spores. Mold can grow if your a/c vents or the components behind them become damp, which is readily taken away by the movement of air and disseminated throughout your vehicle's cabin. Mold can cause coughing and wheezing, as well as throat and eye irritation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

7. Your car is a powerhouse of bacteria 
A small quantity of feces and other harmful microorganisms can be found on most surfaces, including public restroom doors, phone screens, and kitchen worktops. These locations are referred to as "touch spots," which means that people frequently touch them, transmitting germs.

Thousands of touchpoints exist in your car, including the gear shift, door handle, steering wheel, and radio buttons. All of these touch areas, including feces, are vulnerable to deadly bacteria and pathogens, such as E. Coli or salmonella. When you put in crumbs from snacks you consume in your car from time to time, you're adding rotting food particles to the mix, creating a breeding habitat for this bacteria.

According to a study conducted by CarRentals.com, your automobile has an average of 700 bacteria strains festering throughout the interior. The typical steering wheel has 629 colony-forming units (CFU) per square centimeter, making it four times as dirty as a public toilet seat. You're just spreading it and exposing yourself to illness if you touch the steering wheel, then eat food, bite your nails, or wipe your nose.

Cleaning your automobile after a lengthy road trip and once every few weeks is a good idea. Wipe off all touchpoints thoroughly, including the dashboard and buttons, using an antibacterial cleaner. Keeping sanitizing wipes in your car for after meals is a good idea.