« Successful Grants are Awarded On their Own Merit | Home | Diesel Exhaust Affects Humans – A California Report – Part I »
Diesel Exhaust Affects Humans – A California Report – Part II
This is the second of a two part series on the effects of diesel exhaust on humans as reported by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment (OEHHA).
Studies done with volunteers showed that there were instant health effects on the human body when exposed to diesel exhaust. The subjects experienced irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs that caused coughing, headaches, lightheadedness and nausea. The lungs also experienced inflammation that could cause the respiratory system to become irritated, and increased the number and severity of asthma attacks. The biggest contributing factors to this reaction by the body are the fine particles that are in the diesel exhaust. The younger members of our society whose respiratory system is still developing are most susceptible to being affected due to their reduced lung capacity. This is connected to more childhood illnesses, which in turn causes reduced proper functioning and maturing of the lungs.
Another concern from diesel exhaust is the nitrogen oxides produced. This gas is a major component in smog. Nitrogen oxides reduce the body’s immune system by damaging the lung tissues, which causes respiratory lung disease to become worse or more intense, as in asthma.
The ARB of California has come up with a plan to clean up the air. In their decision, diesel exhaust is considered the major and most widely spread toxic contributor to the air pollution in that state. This plan calls for a reduction of 75 % of particle emissions from diesel exhaust by the year 2010 and a further reduction to 85 % by the year 2020 from a base point set in 1990. As a part of this plan, cleaner burning fuels and formulations are needed. In addition, particle filters need to be retrofitted on the diesel’s exhaust system, just like the one developed by Ward Diesel.
This report was issued by California. There are other reports like the one from Montana that look at the problem and address it differently. The more you read, the better informed you will become. Addressing the problem of diesel exhaust and the particles they emit is a concern for all of us. Become better informed.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.