The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure. Many people are exposed to exhaust emissions every day in different ways like vehicles running on diesel and petrol.

How are people exposed to exhausts?
Breathing in fumes from car exhaust; and this could increase the risk of a heart attack for those already battling a heart disease. A heart attack occurs when the flow of oxygenated blood to a section of the heart’s muscles has been blocked. Inhaling fumes in heavy amounts could trigger a heart attack, according to a team of researchers from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Sciences.

Where are people exposed to exhausts?
1. At work : People with the some of the highest exposures at work include truck drivers, heavy machinery operators, railroad and dock workers, garage workers and mechanics. Some farm workers may also spend a lot of time around diesel exhausts.

2. While traveling: Exposure to fuel exhaust may be higher when in a vehicle, especially when traveling on roads with heavier truck or bus traffic. Commuting to and from work is a potential source of fuel exhaust exposure for many people. One particular area of concern is children’s exposures to fuel exhaust and other pollutants while riding in school buses, as the buses themselves typically run on diesel fuel.

3. Where they live and play: People can also be exposed to fuel exhaust in areas where they live and play, although this is typically at lower levels than in the workplace. Exposures are highest where traffic is heaviest such as along major highways and cities.

How are exhaust fumes emitted?
Exhaust gas is emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such natural gas, petrol, diesel fuel, fuel oil or coal. According to the type of engine, it is discharged into the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe. The largest part of most combustion gas is nitrogen,water vapour and carbon dioxide. A relatively small part of combustion gas is composed of undesirable, toxic substances such as carbon monoxide from incomplete combustion.

Diseases likely to be caused through the inhalation of car exhaust fume are:
1.Cancer: Vehicles emit numerous carcinogenic chemicals. Diesel contains benzene, formaldehyde, and 1,3- butadiene — all these are well recognized carcinogens. It was observed that vehicle emissions account for as many as half of all cancers attributed to outdoor air pollution.

2. Cardiovascular diseases: Death and hospital admissions for myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure and cardiac arrhythmia increase with increase in the concentrations of particulate and gaseous pollutants. As concentrations of airborne particles increase, those with cardiovascular disease may experience increasing severity of symptoms, rates of hospitalization, and mortality.

3. Asthma attack: Diesel exhaust is especially dangerous, containing nearly 40 hazardous pollutants. The mixture contains carbon particles that are exceptionally small in size, less than one micron. These fine particles may be deeply inhaled into the lung and carry with them a collection of attached hazardous compounds. Diesel emissions increase the severity and duration of asthma attacks.

What can be done to minimize exposure to exhaust fumes?
Since components of vehicle exhaust fumes are carcinogenic, exposures to both diesel and gasoline exhaust constitute a large proportion of our exposures and must be minimized.
*Cars and trucks should not run unnecessarily idle and people should turn off their motors when they are not in their vehicles and children should never be allowed to pump gas.

*Exhaust exposure can also be avoided by decreasing the amount of time that is spent where machines are running.

*People should not exercise along busy streets or highways.

*You can also reduce exhaust exposure by closing your car windows while driving in moderate and heavy traffic.


Culled from The Observer Reports
http://observerreports.com/2013/10/vehicle-exhaust-fumes-and-our-health/

@ op, what an interesting topic you have there. This will generate a lot of comments if the topic is moved to the Car Talk Section. @ op, I need permission to move this topic to the Car Talk section

I guess you never knew some of these things.

uboma: @ op, what an interesting topic you have there. This will generate a lot of comments if the topic is moved to the Car Talk Section. @ op, I need permission to move this topic to the Car Talk section

You can move it to what you think is the best section.

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