The World Health Organization rules on Tuesday that diesel fumes are classified as carcinogen substances. The ruling also said that diesel exhaust is a public health comparable to the risk if people are exposed to second hand smoke.
According to Kurt Straif, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, "It's on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking...This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines."
The last time IARC declared the status of diesel fumes was in 1989 when it was categorized a "probable" carcinogen. Raising the status of diesel exhaust to carcinogenic puts it into the same category as other known hazards such as asbestos, alcohol and ultraviolet radiation.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
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About Me
- Teresita Tayanes
- I am a college librarian, a passionate reader, and a seeker of God's truth.