Research indicates fine particulates from burning diesel increase heart attack risk. (image by theallineed.com)
While diesel automobiles have never taken off in the United States, it’s what powers the engines in the millions of commercial semi-trailer trucks that haul freight daily. And while we can appreciate the sheer volume of torque available in German turbo-diesel engines, perhaps the limited number of diesel cars on our roads isn’t such a bad thing, based on a new research study from the University of Edinburgh.
The study looked to measured the impact of diesel exhaust fumes on healthy volunteers at levels comparable to those found in heavily polluted cities. They studied how subjects reacted to the gases found in diesel fumes, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, and compared them with reactions from the ultrafine chemical particles in diesel exhausts.
The researchers found that while the gases didn’t cause harm to the test subject, the particles caused significant damage to blood vessels, and increased the chances of blood clots forming in arteries. Blood clots that can then lead to a heart attack or stroke.
“While many people tend to think of the effects of air pollution in terms of damage to the lungs, there is strong evidence that it has an impact on the heart and blood vessels as well,” said Dr. Mark Miller of the Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh. “Our research shows that while both gases and particles can affect our blood pressure, it is actually the minuscule chemical particles that are emitted by car exhausts that are really harmful. These particles produce highly reactive molecules called free radicals that can injure our blood vessels and lead to vascular disease.”
The threat to our health will eventually disappear. California has established regulations requiring retrofitting older engines with new diesel particulate filters to eliminate at least 85 percent of these particles, and all new diesels being produced for sale in the United States are being produced with the filters.
