{"id":45048,"date":"2016-04-15T09:22:53","date_gmt":"2016-04-15T13:22:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetsave.com\/?p=45048"},"modified":"2016-04-15T09:22:53","modified_gmt":"2016-04-15T13:22:53","slug":"much-exposed-diesel-pollution-inhaled-pahs-directly-damage-dna-cells-lungs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetsave.com\/articles\/much-exposed-diesel-pollution-inhaled-pahs-directly-damage-dna-cells-lungs\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Are We Exposed To Diesel Pollution? Inhaled PAHs Directly Damage DNA In Cells Of Our Lungs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally\u00a0published on\u00a0CleanTechnica<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

More and more, comprehensive scientific reports warn us of the dangers of diesel pollution. How much are we exposed to diesel each day? Do we want to know?<\/p>\n

Tim Johns for BBC<\/em>\u00a0measured his exposure in daily environments \u2014 transit, home, and work. What did these situations reflect regarding airborne pollutants (that he breathes)? Compromised immune systems start with compromised lungs. It is my opinion we are all suffering as pollutants from the air enter our lungs and lower immune and respiratory function.\u00a0I am not alone in these concerns:\u00a0the World Health Organization<\/a> reclassified diesel pollution as a \u201cdefinite carcinogen<\/a>\u201d in 2012 \u2014 primarily causing lung and to some extent bladder cancer.<\/p>\n

\"diesel<\/a><\/p>\n

Being a healthcare provider, I believe fossil fuels are making us sick. It naturally follows that reading\u00a0health studies leads\u00a0one to become an EV advocate and driver \u2014 or bicyclist\/pedestrian\u00a0(other\u00a0conscientious choices). Every physician and healthcare provider should drive an electric car, bicycle, and\/or walk. We advocate nutritious fresh food and exercise \u2014 we need to support clean-air vehicles.\u00a0UK-funded carcinogen expert from King\u2019s College London, Professor David Phillips<\/a>, provides some details and perspective:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen diesel burns inside an engine it releases two potentially cancer-causing things: microscopic soot particles, and chemicals called \u2018polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons\u2019, or PAHs. According to Phillips, there are three possible ways these can cause cancer: \u2018Firstly, inhaled PAHs could directly damage the DNA in the cells of our lungs \u2013 leading to cancer.\u2019”<\/p>\n

Richard Branson and the B Team<\/a>\u00a0(the end of business as usual) voiced the belief that humankind will look back on this dirty, air-polluting automobile culture as they now do second-hand cigarette smoke (which is now banned many places). For those of us who recognize the threat and want to limit exposure to diesel fumes, how can we do that? Whether we drive electric or bicycle, we are surrounded by other vehicles spewing fumes. Going on, Phillips states:<\/p>\n

\u201cSecondly, the soot particles can get lodged deep inside the lungs, causing long-term inflammation, and thirdly, this can increase the rate at which cells divide. So if any nearby lung cells pick up random mutations, this inflammation could, theoretically, make them more likely to grow and spread.\u201d<\/p>\n

Would that latest virus be as compromising if one\u2019s immune system was not down already from air pollutants? I think not. In the UK,\u00a0a recent study<\/a>\u00a0blames air pollution for 40,000 early deaths every year. In the same study, \u201cresearchers cited diesel as the major villain.\u201d And why, when there is a solution? It is not just the time you lose stuck in traffic \u2014 slow-moving traffic (as is often found in cities) is about the worse for diesel fumes. (Thank you to the researchers at King\u2019s College for this information).<\/p>\n