forums energies: society, ecology and clean technologies

Respiratory toxicity of diesel particles - by Christophe 24 / 01 / 2006: 12: 50

Air quality has become a major issue in the environmental policy of industrialized countries.

Indeed, a set of presumptions, based on epidemiological studies carried out over the last twenty years, makes it possible to establish a probable relationship between certain pollutants such as atmospheric particles and mortality or morbidity of respiratory and cardiovascular origin.

However, it is not always easy to establish a clear causal relationship between a given pollutant and a health effect. Diesel particles have been rapidly implicated in the worsening of respiratory diseases such as asthma, as their small size allows them to access the deep lung.

Recent experimental studies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the inflammatory response induced by these particles. These could go through the production of activated species of oxygen that play a central role, currently recognized, in many diseases.

At current ambient concentrations in Europe, exposure to particulate matter can affect the lungs and shorten life expectancy by a few months, mainly in pre-existing heart and lung diseases. Both coarse and fine particles cause harmful health effects, fine particles (especially the ultrafine ones) tend to be more dangerous.

jean63 wrote:So, if so, why continue to develop diesel + in France, except that it sends slightly less CO2 in the atmosphere than other fuels

jean63 wrote:What is the policy of other European countries in this matter?

lau wrote:I do not have on my car and the last CT before pantonisation I was at 0,23 opacimeter ... it's serious doctor?

Econology wrote:But what are you talking about?

The diesels are perfectly clean thanks to miraculous particulate filters! It's marked everywhere! In addition it is a French invention! What do you want more ? The moon ?