This was a letter printed in Car & Driver (May)
Q: Is it true that you shouldn't use the air-recirculate button on your car's climate control for more than a minute or so? A friend told me that you could die from lack of oxygen if you do.
Editor: Not true. In fact, when the windows are closed recirculating the air is safer than running the fresh-air fan for extended periods-- which can cause the cabin to explode.