The health and safety of you and your family is of the utmost important to Honda. For example, in the 2012 Honda Civic, the automaker has made some of the most innovative safety features standard across trim levels. That's right - every Civic features standard Vehicle Stability Assist with traction control; anti-lock brakes; tire pressure monitoring; ACE body structure; as well as front, front side, and side curtain airbags. And, just to further prove how safe the Civic is, the Insurance Institute for Highways Safety (IIHS) named the 2012 Civic a Top Safety Pick.

But there are more reasons to consider the Civic when it comes to protecting your family. In a recent study by HealthyStuff.org and Ecology Center, researchers found the interior of the compact to be the least toxic out of the 204 new vehicles they tested.

Least toxic? Yup. As it turns out, many automakers use harsh and dangerous chemicals to construct the interiors of their cars. The major offenders are bromine flame retardants and PVC-based plastics, but those are just two of the 275 chemicals they found in vehicle interiors. The cocktail of chlorine, lead, and other harsh metals and chemicals begins breaking down almost immediately, off-gassing in the small interiors of vehicles baking in the sun on dealership lots.

Researchers began the push carmakers to cut back on their hazardous material use back in 2006. The good news is that most automakers are making an effort to use less bromine and PVC. As of today, 17 percent of new vehicles have PVC-free interiors, and 60 percent are bromine free. That might not seem like much, but back in 2006, 0 percent of cars were PVC-free. How can you tell if a new car is full of toxic chemicals? A good rule of thumb is: the stronger the 'new-car' smell, the more toxic the interior.

The even better news is that Honda leads the pack, and the Civic boasts a nearly bromine-free and PVC-free interior. Following closely behind the Civic is the Honda CR-Z, with incredibly low levels of Bromine and no chlorine or lead found in the interior. And, we're sure we'll be hearing more about this in the months and years to come, as the automaker has always been at the forefront of driver and passenger health and safety.

With that in mind, be sure to stay tuned with Apple Honda, 1375 Route 58 Riverhead, NY 11901 for continued news and updates.

In the meantime, we invite you to stop in and see the entire lineup of new Honda models, all built with the integrity and care that put the Honda Civic at the top of HealthyStuff.org's list of clean interiors.