Long-term exposure to diesel pollution, which contains a complex mixture of pollutants, can have serious health effects on humans, experts said, even as the government is considering a ban on diesel vehicles . A government panel constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has recommended a ban on the use of diesel-based four-wheelers by 2027 in cities with a population of over one million.
Pollution from diesel exhaust mainly consists of soot or particulate matter (PM); Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) which contribute to the production of ground level ozone (haze) and acid rain; hydrocarbons (HC), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).
Short-term exposure to diesel exhaust can cause nose and eye irritation, changes in lung function, respiratory changes, headache, fatigue, and nausea. Prolonged cough, sputum production, and poor lung function have been observed with prolonged exposure.
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Vivek Nangia, principal director and head of pulmonology, Max Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, told IANS: “A common contributor to air pollution is vehicular smoke, with diesel exhaust particulates accounting for a significant percentage of particulate matter emitted in many towns and cities. ” ,
“Exposure to smoke causes significant inflammatory changes in the airways, which can be even more harmful in people with chronic lung diseases such as bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease, etc. It also Diesel exhaust particulates are believed to be an important factor contributing to the allergy epidemic because they act as allergen adjuvants and enhance the sensitization response,” he said.
A recent study from the Universities of British Columbia and Victoria in Canada showed that even moderate levels of traffic pollution are capable of impairing brain function in just a few hours.
Another study of 1.4 million children under the age of 10 by the Universities of Manchester in the UK and Aarhus in Denmark showed that exposure to high levels of nitrogen dioxide and PM 2.5 increased the likelihood of self-harm in adulthood by 50 percent increases up to
These two pollutants are most closely linked to heart and lung diseases, as they enter the bloodstream and cause inflammation.
Air pollution contributes to approximately 6 million preterm births globally each year. The exhaust emitted by diesel engines has also been linked to increased rates of neuro-developmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism.
Kuldeep Kumar Grover said, “Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of pollutants. Obviously, they are very small carbon particles known as diesel particulate matter. will enter the organs, especially the lungs.” Head of Critical Care & Pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram.
“Diesel exhaust contains more than 40 cancer-causing substances, thus diesel engine emissions are thought to be responsible for so many cancer-related pollutants. This is because a variety of factors increase the health risk of exposure to diesel particulates.” ,” They said. One possible solution is to switch to electric and gas-fuelled vehicles, as suggested by a government panel.
The latest study from the University of Southern California uses real-world data to provide evidence that an increase in electric vehicles could result in better air quality and better health. The study found that air pollution and health problems decreased when electric vehicles increased.