Legal restrictions on vehicle engine exhaust gas emission control do not always go hand in hand with an actual reduction in the emissions of toxins into the atmosphere. Moreover, the methods currently used to measure exhaust gas emissions do not give unambiguous results on the impact of the tested gases on living organisms. The method used to assess the actual toxicity of gases, BAT-CELL Bio-Ambient-Tests using in vitro tests, takes into account synergistic interactions of individual components of a mixture of gases without the need to know its qualitative and quantitative composition and allows for determination of the actual toxicity of the gas composition. Using the BAT-CELL method, exhaust gases from passenger vehicles equipped with spark-ignition engines complying with the Euro 3 and Euro 6 emission standards were tested. The results of toxicological tests were correlated with the results of chromatographic analysis. It was shown that diverse qualitative composition of the mixture of hydrocarbons determining the exhaust gases toxicity may decrease the percentage value of cell survival. Additionally, it was proven that the average survival of cells after exposure to exhaust gases from tested vehicles meeting the more restrictive Euro 6 standard was lower than for vehicles meeting the Euro 3 standard thus indicating the higher toxicity of exhaust gases from newer vehicles.

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In the paper the levels of concentrations of volatile organic compounds getting into car cabin during the driving have been measured. Three series of the tests have been performed. Each series has been carried out in different road situation in terms of traffic intensity. For the tests exploited passenger car, Subaru Impreza was used. Before every series the background measurements was carried out and directly after that, the correct the correct tests were performed. Inside the cabin 14 different organic compounds have been identified. To analyse the change of the concentrations levels between the correct and background test have been calculated. The results indicate that the longer time of travel caused that the driver and passengers are more exposed to highest concentrations of VOCs.