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The Ailing The Ailing EnvironmentEnvironment

Car Exhaust - Health Car Exhaust - Health Effects Effects

Christine WalserChristine WalserEnvironment and Human HealthEnvironment and Human Health

Pathogens in car exhaust Pathogens in car exhaust include:include:

-Carbon Monoxide -Carbon Monoxide -Nitrogen Dioxide -Nitrogen Dioxide -Sulphur Dioxide -Sulphur Dioxide -Particles such as PM-10 -Particles such as PM-10 -Benzene -Benzene -Formaldehyde -Formaldehyde -Polycyclic hydrocarbons -Polycyclic hydrocarbons

Background InformationBackground Information A conference on "Air Pollution: Impacts on Body A conference on "Air Pollution: Impacts on Body

Organs and Systems" was held in Washington Organs and Systems" was held in Washington D.C. by the National Association of Physicians for D.C. by the National Association of Physicians for the Environment on November 18, 1994. the Environment on November 18, 1994.

Air pollution can enter the human bloodstream Air pollution can enter the human bloodstream through the nose, mouth, skin, and the digestive through the nose, mouth, skin, and the digestive tract. tract.

Include harmful chemicals such as benzene, lead, Include harmful chemicals such as benzene, lead, carbon monoxide, volatile nitrites, pesticides and carbon monoxide, volatile nitrites, pesticides and herbicides. herbicides.

Produce harmful effects on the blood, bone Produce harmful effects on the blood, bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. marrow, spleen and lymph nodes.

The blood system is vulnerable to environmental The blood system is vulnerable to environmental poisoning due to the process when new blood poisoning due to the process when new blood cells enter the circulation as mature cells are lost. cells enter the circulation as mature cells are lost.

The toxic chemicals in environmental air The toxic chemicals in environmental air pollution causes the immune system to pollution causes the immune system to activate leukocytes and macrophages that activate leukocytes and macrophages that produce tissue damage, including the cells produce tissue damage, including the cells that line human blood vessels that line human blood vessels

Repetitive exposure to toxic chemicals makes Repetitive exposure to toxic chemicals makes it difficult for the lining cells to release it difficult for the lining cells to release endothelial-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) endothelial-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) which relaxes the smooth muscle in blood which relaxes the smooth muscle in blood vessel walls. Interference of EDRF causes vessel walls. Interference of EDRF causes systemic hypertension systemic hypertension

Leukocytes on the endothelium’s surface can Leukocytes on the endothelium’s surface can promote atherosclerotic disease promote atherosclerotic disease

These combined effects lead to hypertension These combined effects lead to hypertension and ischemic heart disease. and ischemic heart disease.

Air pollutant can enter the respiratory Air pollutant can enter the respiratory tract as a volatile gas (ozone, benzene), tract as a volatile gas (ozone, benzene), liquid droplets (sulfuric acid, nitrogen liquid droplets (sulfuric acid, nitrogen dioxide), particulate matter (components dioxide), particulate matter (components of diesel exhaust, aromatic of diesel exhaust, aromatic hydrocarbons). hydrocarbons).

When these pollutant enter the immune When these pollutant enter the immune system, it can cause responses such as system, it can cause responses such as overactive immune responses or overactive immune responses or immunosuppression. immunosuppression.

Disorders caused by pollutants in the Disorders caused by pollutants in the respiratory system: respiratory system:

-immunosuppression: exposure to -immunosuppression: exposure to polycyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsaromatic hydrocarbons

-hypersensitivity reactions- exposure to -hypersensitivity reactions- exposure to toluene diisocyanate or other chemicals toluene diisocyanate or other chemicals

SolutionSolution Air pollution prevention is the best Air pollution prevention is the best

solution for immediate reduction of solution for immediate reduction of harmful effects of environmental harmful effects of environmental toxins. toxins.

Public support is necessary to Public support is necessary to reduce environmental air pollution. reduce environmental air pollution.

Governments can Governments can encourage the reduction of encourage the reduction of

vehicular use by: vehicular use by: Promoting Voluntary abstention Promoting Voluntary abstention Increased Public TransitIncreased Public Transit Separate commercial and private traffic to Separate commercial and private traffic to

increase efficient use of roads increase efficient use of roads Stop building car-oriented roads and Stop building car-oriented roads and

highways highways Replace 30% of the existing roads designed Replace 30% of the existing roads designed

for cars with a variety of transportation for cars with a variety of transportation optionsoptions

In cities, build more walking paths, bicycle In cities, build more walking paths, bicycle routes and paths for small electric vehicles routes and paths for small electric vehicles

Reduce commuting - link residence and Reduce commuting - link residence and business activities by rezoning and business activities by rezoning and rebuilding cities.rebuilding cities.

Reward car-pools and car-sharing plans * Reward car-pools and car-sharing plans * Redefine road use by defining access Redefine road use by defining access privileges - no longer a right privileges - no longer a right

Road Tolls and increased gasoline and Road Tolls and increased gasoline and registration taxesregistration taxes

Base car license fees on fuel consumption in Base car license fees on fuel consumption in the previous year. Use exponential fee rate the previous year. Use exponential fee rate increase for high fuel consumption increase for high fuel consumption individuals.individuals.

Provide generous development grants and Provide generous development grants and tax incentives for all non-polluting tax incentives for all non-polluting transportation alternatives.transportation alternatives.

Carbon MonoxideCarbon Monoxide Air pollution can harm organs of the body, Air pollution can harm organs of the body,

an example would be carbon monoxide an example would be carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin Carbon monoxide binds to the hemoglobin

and does not allow oxygen to be released and does not allow oxygen to be released to the tissues. to the tissues.

Carbon monoxide poisoning causes Carbon monoxide poisoning causes suffocation suffocation

Carbon monoxide increases the severity Carbon monoxide increases the severity of cardiovascular disease in humans of cardiovascular disease in humans

Example of a patient with a chemical Example of a patient with a chemical exposure:exposure: The patient worked in a vehicle repair shop with The patient worked in a vehicle repair shop with inadequate ventilation making him vulnerable inadequate ventilation making him vulnerable to concentrations of exhaust products. to concentrations of exhaust products.

He was exposed to diesel and gasoline engine He was exposed to diesel and gasoline engine exhaust, including pathogens such as carbon exhaust, including pathogens such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, suspended particles, benzene, polycyclic suspended particles, benzene, polycyclic hydrocarbons, and lead. hydrocarbons, and lead.

He developed a chronic illness with signs of He developed a chronic illness with signs of chronic fatigue, recurrent flu-like illness, chronic fatigue, recurrent flu-like illness, limited exertional tolerance, vertigo, dyspepsia limited exertional tolerance, vertigo, dyspepsia with epigastric pain, chest pain, shortness of with epigastric pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, anxietybreath, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety

He had trouble concentrating and experienced He had trouble concentrating and experienced memory loss. Studies have also shown that memory loss. Studies have also shown that prolonged exposure to exhaust gases induce prolonged exposure to exhaust gases induce allergy symptoms or hypersensitivity, and lead allergy symptoms or hypersensitivity, and lead to immune and endocrine abnormalities. to immune and endocrine abnormalities.

LeadLead Lead is one of the hundreds of neurotoxic air Lead is one of the hundreds of neurotoxic air

pollutantspollutants Other heavy metals, pesticides, and organic Other heavy metals, pesticides, and organic

solvents also cause neurobehavioral solvents also cause neurobehavioral dysfunction: changes in mood, cognition and dysfunction: changes in mood, cognition and behavior. Neurobehavior effects can contribute behavior. Neurobehavior effects can contribute to serious psychiatric problems. to serious psychiatric problems.

Studies have shown that increased levels of air Studies have shown that increased levels of air pollutants were accompanied by increase pollutants were accompanied by increase psychiatric emergency calls and hospital psychiatric emergency calls and hospital admissions, behavior changes, and lessened admissions, behavior changes, and lessened sense of well-being. sense of well-being.

Fifteen years ago, blood lead concentrations in Fifteen years ago, blood lead concentrations in children under 30 to 40 micrograms per children under 30 to 40 micrograms per deciliter were not considered problematic. deciliter were not considered problematic. Research has shown that 10 to 15 micrograms Research has shown that 10 to 15 micrograms per deciliter causes changes in cognitive per deciliter causes changes in cognitive function.function.

Children are more sensitive to lead’s CNS Children are more sensitive to lead’s CNS effects but adults also experience deficits effects but adults also experience deficits in learning and memory. in learning and memory.

Targets the central nervous systemTargets the central nervous system A study done in Germany showed that A study done in Germany showed that

there was a relation between age-related there was a relation between age-related decline in bone lead concentrations with decline in bone lead concentrations with advancing age.advancing age.

Lead can harm normal red blood cell Lead can harm normal red blood cell formation by inhibiting important formation by inhibiting important enzymes. Lead damages red blood cell enzymes. Lead damages red blood cell membranes and shortens the survival of membranes and shortens the survival of each cell due to the interference of cell each cell due to the interference of cell metabolism. These effects result in clinical metabolism. These effects result in clinical anemia (A pathological deficiency in the anemia (A pathological deficiency in the oxygen-carrying component of the blood). oxygen-carrying component of the blood).

BenzeneBenzene Benzene has been found in 337 of 1177 Benzene has been found in 337 of 1177

National Priorities List hazardous waste National Priorities List hazardous waste sites. sites.

determined to be carcinogenic by the US determined to be carcinogenic by the US Department of Health and Human Services Department of Health and Human Services

produced in petroleum refining produced in petroleum refining used as solvents used as solvents used as materials to produce industrial used as materials to produce industrial

products and pesticides products and pesticides environmental sources of benzene: found in environmental sources of benzene: found in

gasoline, cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust gasoline, cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust fumes, underground storage that leak, fumes, underground storage that leak, wastewater from industries that use wastewater from industries that use benzene, chemical spills, groundwater next benzene, chemical spills, groundwater next to landfills containing benzene, and food to landfills containing benzene, and food products that contain benzene naturally. products that contain benzene naturally.

exposure to benzene is related to the exposure to benzene is related to the development of leukemia and lymphoma development of leukemia and lymphoma

suppresses bone marrow, impairs blood suppresses bone marrow, impairs blood cell maturation and marrow loss cell maturation and marrow loss

exposure can lead to the reduction of the exposure can lead to the reduction of the number of blood cells, or cause total bone number of blood cells, or cause total bone marrow loss marrow loss

harmful to the immune system, increasing harmful to the immune system, increasing the chance for infections and lowering the the chance for infections and lowering the body’s defense against tumors body’s defense against tumors

long-term exposure result in severe long-term exposure result in severe anemia and internal bleeding anemia and internal bleeding

exposure to high levels of benzene after exposure to high levels of benzene after brief oral or inhalation can lead to death brief oral or inhalation can lead to death

main effects are drowsiness, dizziness and main effects are drowsiness, dizziness and headaches, but disappear after exposure headaches, but disappear after exposure stops. stops.

Polycyclic aromatic Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonshydrocarbons

PAHs are a group of chemicals formed PAHs are a group of chemicals formed during the incomplete burning of coal, oil during the incomplete burning of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or other organic and gas, garbage, or other organic substances. substances.

used in medicines, and to make dyes, used in medicines, and to make dyes, plastics, and pesticides plastics, and pesticides

found in the air, water and soil found in the air, water and soil colorless, white, or pale yellow-green solids colorless, white, or pale yellow-green solids occur in air attached to dust particles, or in occur in air attached to dust particles, or in

soil or sediment as solids soil or sediment as solids found in substances such as crude oil, coal, found in substances such as crude oil, coal,

coal tar pitch, creosote, road and roofing tar coal tar pitch, creosote, road and roofing tar

PAHs attached to dust and other PAHs attached to dust and other particles in the air originate from particles in the air originate from vehicle exhausts, asphalt roads, coal, vehicle exhausts, asphalt roads, coal, coal tar, wildfires, agricultural burning coal tar, wildfires, agricultural burning and hazardous waste sites. and hazardous waste sites.

can be exposed to PAHs in soil near can be exposed to PAHs in soil near where coal, wood, gasoline have been where coal, wood, gasoline have been burned, or from soil near waste sites burned, or from soil near waste sites such as former manufactured gas sites such as former manufactured gas sites and wood-preserving facilities.and wood-preserving facilities.

enter the body through the lungs enter the body through the lungs

stored in the kidneys, liver, fat, spleen, stored in the kidneys, liver, fat, spleen, adrenal glands and ovaries but are excreted adrenal glands and ovaries but are excreted within a few days in the feces and urine within a few days in the feces and urine

PAHs may be carcinogens PAHs may be carcinogens laboratory animals developed tumors laboratory animals developed tumors humans who are exposed by breathing or humans who are exposed by breathing or

skin contact can develop cancer skin contact can develop cancer PAHs change into chemicals that can attach PAHs change into chemicals that can attach

to substances within the body which can be to substances within the body which can be measured in body tissues or blood after measured in body tissues or blood after exposure exposure