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Diesel Exhaust Affects Humans – A California Report – Part I
Diesel fuel is the source of power that the modern world relies on for the transportation of goods and for service vehicles for most of this modern era we live in today. Diesel fuel historically has been cheaper, more versatile, less flammable and less expensive than that of gasoline. These are a few reasons for the development and wide spread use of the diesel engines which now are a major contributor to our pollution problem.
In 1998, an in-depth report by the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment (OEHHA) on diesel exhaust was made public. This report formally identified fine-particles present in diesel exhaust and toxic air contaminants that pose a threat to human health.
There are over 40 toxic air contaminants in what is commonly referred to as soot from the running of diesel engines. This includes benzene, arsenic, nickel, and formaldehyde – known cancer-causing substances. Everyone in the country is exposed to the harmful effects but those that work in a close proximity to a concentration of diesel engine usage such as in industrial areas have the greatest exposure and risk.
Humans and animals alike are exposed the same way to the toxic chemicals in diesel exhaust through inhalation. The California Air Resource Board (ARB) reported that the cancer risk contribution to the average Californian from inhaling diesel exhaust was 70%. OEHHA conducted a study involving 30 people that worked in close proximity and were continuously exposed to diesel exhaust. This study showed an increasing chance for lung cancer of the participants when compared to individuals who were not continuously exposed to concentrated diesel exhaust. The conclusion of the study provided strong evidence that long-term occupational exposure to diesel exhaust increased the risk of lung cancer to humans. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health along with other researchers and scientist came to the same conclusion as this report and ARB’s study.
To be continued…
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