A new class of potent mutagenic compounds found in diesel exhaust and airborne particles is likely to be among key factors in contributing to human lung cancer, World Health Organisation (WHO).
Evidence is also increasing for a link between childhood cancer and vehicle exhaust.
WHO claims that as many as 80,000 deaths a year in Europe can be attributed to to long term exposure to road traffic pollution.
Dr. Robert Coleman, Director General of the transport division of the European Commission, recently described the impact of transport on the environment and human health as a “major political concern”.
European Hospital Management Journal Vol. 5 Issue 4 1998
3-Nitrolbenzanthrone, A Powerful Bacterial Mutagen and Suspected Carcinogen Found in Diesel Exhaust and Airborne Particulates
Authors: Takeji Enya, Hitomi, T. Watanabe, T. Hirayama, and Y. Hisamatsu
Publication Date: Aug 1997
Summary: 3-Nitrolbenzanthrone (3-nitro-7 H-benz(d,e) anthracen-7 one) was identified as a new class of powerful direct mutagen. Its mutagenicity by Ames Salmonella assay is very high (208,000 revertants/nmol in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and 6,290,000 revertants; nmol in YG1024) and compares with that of 1,8-dinitropyrene, which is the direct mutagen of strongest activity (257,000 recertants/nmol in TA98 and 4,780,000 revertants/nmol in YG1024) so far reported in the literature.
The new mutagen was also shown to induce micronuclei in mouse peripheral blood reticulocytes after intraperitoneal administration (micronucleated reticulocytes, 0.6% against 25 mg/kg dose after 48 h), suggesting its potential genotoxicity to mammalians.
3-Nitrobenzanthrone is most likely to be formed not only during the combustion process of fossil fuels but also from the atmospheric reaction between benzanthrone and lower oxides of nitrogen, since the latter ketone was found to be nitrated quite easily under an artifical atmospher containing gaseous NO2 (10 ppm) and 03 (5 ppm) to produce the powerfully mutagenic 3-nitro derivative as the major product, along with several other isomeric mononitrobenzanthrones and dinitro descendants as minor products.
Diesel Exhaust Proven To Increase Lung Cancer
“This is the first time it has been proven that the risk of lung cancer is increased by exposure to diesel fumes”, says Thomas J. Smith from the Uni. of Massachusetts.
Diesel exhaust contains soot particles which are carriers of mutagenic and carcinogenic substances. This has been a well known fact for some time. The particles are deposited in the lungs when inhaling the exhaust fumes.
The American research project examined 55,407 railway workers who were aged between 40 and 64 in the year 1959, and who had started employment between 10 and 20 years previously. The US railways use diesel engines.
The cancer risk increased by 72% for those who had been exposed for 15 years or more. For workers with 1 to 4 years’ exposure, the risk increased by 20%.
The study included statistics of the group after the maintenance workers had been excluded. The results still showed an increased risk of lung cancer for the remaining exposed group.
Source American Review of Respiratory Diseases.
California Classifies 40 Particles In Diesel Exhaust As Toxic
SACRAMENTO, CA (AP) - California regulators said 40 chemicals found in diesel fumes must be listed as toxic air pollutants.
The 11-member panel is one of the most influential environmental regulatory agencies in the country. Its decisions often serve as a bellwether for stricter standards at the federal level, where regulators also are drafting standards for diesel emissions.
Daniel Greenbaum, President of the Health Effects Institute, an independent air pollution research group said, “People at the EPA and in Europe will be following this very closely.”
Seth Hetta, Associated Press (28/8/98)
Vehicle Diesel Fumes Key Cause Of Lung Cancer