Health effects of diesel exhaust. A contemporary air pollution issue
Extracts of diesel exhaust particles are mutagenic in bacterial and mammalian cell assays; they contain hundreds of identifiable organic compounds, some of which are known mutagens and carcinogens. The particles are readily respired and about 20% to 30% of them are deposited in the pulmonary region, where they are retained for long periods. At low diesel exhaust concentrations, typical of those likely for human exposure, particle deposition and clearance rates are essentially normal and particle concentrations in the pulmonary region are expected to remain quite low. At very high concentrations of diesel exhaust, clearance processes may be overwhelmed and lung burdens of particles may continue to increase over long periods. Evidence from laboratory animals suggests that pulmonary injury and reduced respiratory function would occur in humans at these high concentrations. Epidemiologic data and laboratory studies appear to indicate that the human lung cancer risk from exposure to diesel exhaust would be quite low, even if use of diesel vehicles increased substantially.
- Research Organization:
- Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM
- OSTI ID:
- 6289717
- Journal Information:
- Postgrad. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Postgrad. Med.; (United States) Vol. 6; ISSN POMDA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
CARCINOGENESIS
DIESEL FUELS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
MUTAGENS
PARTICLE SIZE
PATHOGENESIS
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PRIMATES
RATS
RISK ASSESSMENT
RODENTS
SIZE
SOLVENTS
VERTEBRATES
WASTES