This was found on HEALTH ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT FOR DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST
This assessment examined information regarding the possible health hazards associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust (DE), which is a mixture of gases and particles. The assessment concludes that long-term (i.e., chronic) inhalation exposure is likely to pose a lung cancer hazard to humans, as well as damage the lung in other ways depending on exposure. Short-term (i.e., acute) exposures can cause irritation and inflammatory symptoms of a transient nature, these being highly variable across the population. The assessment also indicates that evidence for exacerbation of existing allergies and asthma symptoms is emerging. The assessment recognizes that DE emissions, as a mixture of many constituents, also contribute to ambient concentrations of several criteria air pollutants including nitrogen oxides and fine particles, as well as other air toxics. The assessment's health hazard conclusions are based on exposure to exhaust from diesel engines built prior to the mid-1990s. The health hazard conclusions, in general, are applicable to engines currently in use, which include many older engines. As new diesel engines with cleaner exhaust emissions replace existing engines, the applicability
the EPA web page.
I think CANCER would be a good reason Ir1937. Pesonaly I am glad that someone cares. I use $300 dollars worth of prescriptions each month to stay alive. The medicine is for my lungs. I have been rushed to the hospital more then once not being able to breathe. You cant imagion the feeling 15 minutes to the hospital and your airway is slowly closing,your heart racing trying to make up the loss of oxygen, panting like you just ran a marathon,but your just sitting there and the medicine you take to clear your lungs wont work. Sound like fun huh?
Then you goto work the next day and the guy next to you revs up his cold diesel and fills you area with smoke. My condition is a slow build up then a big attack. But it starts with things like this. Your just lucky to have to good lungs.
(Message edited by kidlogic on January 31, 2003)