Diesel fumes can cause brain damage
March 12, 2008 by Alborz Fallah
It wouldn’t be a new day if there wasn’t a new report scaring us into believing that we are either dying from over-exposure to red roses or cancerous material found in cheap Chinese coffee mugs, but alas, it is a new day, and we have a new report – this one says diesel fumes cause brain damage.
According to Dutch researchers, breathing in diesel exhaust fumes causes a stress response in the brain that can possibly result in long-term damage to brain function.
Researchers monitored the brain waves of 10 volunteers as they sat in a room filled with diesel exhaust fumes for one hour. The level of fumes was similar to that found on a busy road.
The volunteers didn’t need to be there for the whole hour, though, as after just 30 minutes brain wave patterns showed a stress response, which for those us without a medical degree, means changes in information processing in the brain cortex.
Although previous studies have shown that very small nanoparticles in traffic fumes can travel all the way from the nose and lodge themselves in the brain, this is the first evidence of a change in brain activity.
“We can only speculate what these effects may mean for the chronic exposure to air pollution encountered in busy cities where the levels of such soot (nanoparticles) particles can be very high,” said lead researcher Paul Borm from Zuyd University.
So the big question, can breathing in diesel fumes fry your brain?
“It is conceivable that the long-term effects of exposure to traffic nanoparticles may interfere with normal brain function and information processing.”
Of course this is by no means a victory for petrol-powered cars as diesel was only chosen for the study because it’s the common exhaust fume in Europe.
The Dutch group says further research is required to find out for sure if there is need for panic. Currently the nanoparticles found in traffic fumes have already been linked with increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Want to read more? The study is available online at http://www.particleandfibretoxicology.com/
Source: Reuters
Print it: 
yeah id ask for your 6 sided object refund too TP ha ha ha ha
typo there realcars dont you mean “Hecs”
As already mentioned this study is crap as it doesn’t follow scientific method i.e no control or alternative comparisons so on it’s own doesn’t really mean much as it draws no comparison between the real world alternatives to diesel and their negative properties.
Sorry about that typo Andrew M but unlike our learned friend TP I only have a sixth grade education. hA hA hA
realcars,
yep TP got learned real gooder.
he spacticalises in numbers apparently, yet us other peoples is sees hims mistakes
No response. TP must be doing his Home science assignment.
TP,You realy are’nt making to many mates here with some of these comments.
On your reference, Even as a kid you know these are dirty engines talking about Deisels. Mate, I am far from a tech but even i understsnd that the modern day common rail injected deisels are light years ahead of the old oil burners that used to get around.
Cars guide awarded the Deisel I30 as the green car of the year!!
You must be wearing that cardigan of yours to tight as it surely must be resticting the blood flow to your brain boy!
dont forget to brush your teeth TP!!!!!!!
i thought id get in before your mum yells down the hall way at you.
does teddy wear a red cardigan too??? oh that is soo cute.
i can see you cuddled up to your teddy just like Radar
…in his camry car bed and with TRD motif quilt cover.
hahahaha…..your a crack up you two
this is bad for your lungs as well
Hi TP – been away in London polluting the atmoshere in a brand new Vectra diesel.
What a load of bollocks, did they do the same test with a petrol, doubt it.
We have 40% diesel penetration here, and the UK has one of the best most sucessful economies on the planet in a country that is one of the most densely populated in world, so where’s the evidence of brain damage. If you knew the Dutch they are a bunch of nancy flower growers who do little in the world apart from defend their country, most of which is below sea level, from flooding. Now who’s stupid. Ha Ha. utter wank.
Petrol contains 15 chemicals known to be hazardous to health. I work for a company who build and redevelop petrol stations and 2nd stage vapour recovery is high on the agenda due to the health hazards. All fossile based fuels have some form of detrimental effects on health. Say no more.
TP – soot question. Go outside shove your finger up your exhaust pipe of that petrol driven Aurion you’re dreaming about, wiggle it around, pull it out. Then come back and tell me what colour it is. My guess it will be a sooty black colour. Mmmmmm funny that.
Apparently the particles from a petrol car are vastly smaller than a diesel, common sense or ‘wisdom’ would say then they are capable of penetrating the lungs further than a larger (diesel) particulate.
TP ever heard of a particulate filter? they are fitted to many diesels, mostly from French and German cars. Mmmmmm lost again pal. ‘Oh what a feeling’ when i’m choking on the petrol fumes from a Prius.
Now TP answer one of the many questions i’ve asked, so far not one has been! :( Only un-educated guessed statements ever come from you. I provide my sources of info. You cannot as you’re guessing as usual. ;) :}
It is pollution in general that causes brain damage, a fact Clearly demonstrated by TP and his city centric lifestyle/views. Sydney anyone?
and just to add to you there no name,
TP, go and then shove your finger up an LPG tailpipe and then you might realise that what im saying in that LPG vehicles emitt 90% less particulates just might be true.
then pull the dipstick out (not you, i mean the thing you check oil with) and then you will see that there is also obviously cleaner oil at 20,000 in a LPG vehicle versus your camry with only 10,000k’s since the last change
i think the study on petrol has already been done as TP shows scientific signs of brain damage from sniffing his camry’s fumes
Mail is that DIEsel is the new generation Asbestos as in killing us……..
Cheers
F-0
F-O,
I didnt recieve that mail..funny.
If Deisel fumes are so dangerous to us and the enviroment, why would the Hyundai I30 deisel win carsguide green car of the year?
because they are nearly a toxic as petrol fumes and the unburnt petrol vapour you inhale when your filling upthe gas guzzlers
E TEYPOT -
It matters 1 iota what vehicle is DIEsel powered, the simple fact is DIEsel is the most dangerous fume by far, so much so it causes cancer
Google ‘DIEsel cancer’
Cheers
F-0