Diesel engine fumes can cause lung cancer and belong in the same potentially deadly category as asbestos, arsenic, mustard gas, tobacco and alcohol, World Health Organisation experts said recently, reports Kate Kelland at World Environment News. The experts, who said their decision was unanimous and based on “compelling” scientific evidence, urged people worldwide to reduce their exposure to diesel fumes as much as possible. “The working group found that diesel exhaust is a cause of lung cancer and also noted a positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancer,” reported the France-based International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the WHO. The decision was the result of a week-long meeting of independent experts who assessed the latest scientific evidence on the cancer-causing potential of diesel and gasoline exhausts. Large populations are exposed to diesel fumes daily, the group noted, and diesel cars are popular in western Europe. Christopher Portier, chairman of the group, said in a statement, “Given the additional health impacts from diesel particulates, exposure to this mixture of chemicals should be reduced worldwide.”
Source:
Diesel Exhaust Fumes Cause Lung Cancer, WHO Says
Date: 13-Jun-12, Country: LONDON, Author: Kate Kelland
Diesel engine fumes can cause lung cancer and belong in the same potentially deadly category as asbestos, arsenic and mustard gas, World Health Organisation (WHO) experts said on Tuesday. http://planetark.org/wen/65642
