Diesel Exhaust

The emission from diesel powered machines and engines is diesel exhaust. Many particles in diesel exhaust can cause cancer but it is not classified as carcinogen. People who are working on loading docks, bridges, farms, railroad and tunnels and workers including miners, forklift and truck drivers are at the high risk of diesel exhaust. Buses running on diesel are threat to public transportation passengers and school children. Headaches, coughing and eye irritation are few symptoms of diesel exhaust. During long-term exposure when these soot particles are inhaled into lungs, it may result to respiratory conditions, asthma and cancer. According to a study, airborne particles of diesel exhaust increases the treatment for pneumonia, lung and heart diseases.

Diesel Exhaust Exposure and Diseases

People working with diesel engines or diesel equipment are exposed to diesel exhaust on daily basis. Chronic exposure combined with no safety equipments to protect from diesel exhaust causes hazardous chemical diseases. Though, the harmful effects of diesel exhaust on railroad workers have been the subject of study for many years, railroads have done little or nothing to protect their employees from the dangerous effects of diesel exhaust. Two chemical diseases caused from diesel exposure are cancer and obstructive lung diseases. The diesel components enter the body not only through respiratory system but also through eyes damaging optic nerve, brain and central nervous system.

Obstructive Lung Diseases Caused by Diesel Exhaust

According to a recent study conducted, about 40% to 50% of the people working with train services are exposed to unprotected and chronic diesel exhaust causing obstructive lung diseases. Shortness of breathe is the effect of obstructive lung diseases. These lung diseases are caused by the deposition of diesel particulates into the lungs. These ultra fine particles lodge in the lungs, from where they cannot be easily removed by the lung itself. These diesel exhaust ultra fine particles block the lumen in the lungs. Slowly lungs lose their elasticity and decrease to expand and contract with each breathe.

Another common problem that comes with obstructive lung disease is diesel asthma. Most of the times it is mistaken for an allergy. Patients of diesel asthma noticed that once exposed to diesel exhaust, there is shortness of breathe and quick on set hypersensitivity, both of these problems occurring without warning. The major cause for the loss of fifty per cent or more of lungs capacity is due to obstructive lung disease.

Diesel Exhaust – A Reason for Cancer

Medical evidences prove that diesel exhaust causes cancer in human. Medical studies of worker who are exposed to diesel exhaust on daily basis showed that this exposure causes cancer of the urinary tract, bladder, lung, stomach, mouth, prostate, colon, esophagus, and larynx.

Diesel Encephalopathy

Medical scientists have recently established a link between diesel exhaust and diesel encephalopathy. According to a recent study diesel exhaust exposure causes memory loss, mood swing, equilibrium imbalances and sensory losses. Though, diesel encephalopathy is a new field but few scientists claim it can be detected.