Filed under: Etc.
Diesel fumes are bad for your brain
A Dutch study analyzing the effects of diesel soot particles on human brain functions has made its way into the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology, a favorite light read around the Autoblog offices. The research indicates that not only do nanoparticles from diesel fumes make their way up the nasal passages and into your brain, yes your brain, but they also trigger a mental stress response. This is observed through brain wave activity, which, when stressed, reacts by altering typical information processing procedures within the cerebral cortex. While we skipped out on post-Doctoral work to wrench on our rides, we know that anything messing with our cerebral cortex can't be good.
The data was collected through ten volunteer subjects placed in a diesel exhaust filled room for one hour (sound like fun?), that mimicked the environment of a busy street or parking garage. Researchers then monitored the cranium activity of the human lab rats via an electroencephalograph. The findings lead to the conclusion that further investigation is necessary in order to determine the long-term versus short-term impact of these pollutants on human memory and intelligence.
[Source: Drive.au]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
SPG 2:10PM (3/11/2008)
"This just in, ice cream is best served cold".
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John 2:11PM (3/11/2008)
Fumes are bad for your brain? Wow, never would have guessed ..... (eyes rolling)
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Disgruntled Goat 2:15PM (3/11/2008)
Doesn't sound good for anyone living in a large European city like Paris. The diesel soot was so bad the last time I was there that you would blow your nose and black would come out. And that was after a total of only 2 days. I couldn't imagine living there and sucking that chunky air for any length of time. People in the U.S. should consider themselves lucky they aren't overrun with diesel cars and trucks like most European cities.
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Mike 2:30PM (3/11/2008)
That's strange, after a week in Paris last year, I experienced none of the symptoms you describe.
rgseidl 2:36PM (3/11/2008)
Actually, the particles that are small enough to make it through your lungs into your blood and from there into your brain are too small to see. Black soot in your handkerchief is unappealing but really just evidence that your mucous membranes are effective at keeping larger particles (~7 microns and above) out of your bloodstream.
Ironically, the super-fine particles are generated mostly by modern diesels featuring very high fuel injection pressures that reduce soot formation. DPFs do reduce particulate count at all sizes but the really tiny ones remain a cause for concern.
jg 2:39PM (3/11/2008)
Other than a weird flashback feeling when I smell deisel fumes I also didn't experience the black snot effect. And I was in Rome and Naples, two small yet densely packed cities. I have a feeling this is about as reality based as having to wait six months for a hip replacement in canada and Hillary's lesbian affair with Vince Foster.
HAWC1506 6:13PM (3/11/2008)
I got black snot when I was in London. Now I know why...
Seoultrain 2:15PM (3/11/2008)
"After about 30 minutes, brain wave patterns displayed a stress response"
Sitting in a room smelling fumes for an hour would do that to anyone. Did they have a control experiment with some different fumes? This just stinks of doomsday journalism.
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Luis 2:19PM (3/11/2008)
Someone once told me that a minute of exposure to diesel fumes is equal to smoking two packs of cigarettes...yikes!
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rgseidl 2:39PM (3/11/2008)
Diesel fuel fumes are not the same thing as diesel exhaust gases. As for the cigarette comparison: you inhale much more PM from 15 minutes of exposure to secondary smoke than you do by spending all day in a European city.
Ben H. 2:25PM (3/11/2008)
"Doctorrr!! Doctorrr!!
My brain hurts. My brain hurts!"
"We must remove it!"
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Joe K. 2:29PM (3/11/2008)
So's huffing Dust-Off, but you don't see me stopping using that either...
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Tod 2:32PM (3/11/2008)
I wonder if they have done the same test with normal gas engines as well, or done it with biodiesel burning engines.
One wonders if that much time with biodiesel would be making you run to the local fast food joint for french fries?
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LoneWolf 2:36PM (3/11/2008)
normal gas burns way cleaner than a diesel
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digitalzombie 9:18PM (3/11/2008)
you mean diesel burn more efficient and release more particles and gas burn less efficient but release less particles? I guess this is why CARB is so harsh on diesel.
garlinski 2:38PM (3/11/2008)
What?
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Nik 2:38PM (3/11/2008)
who would ever volunteer for that?
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garlinski 2:39PM (3/11/2008)
I think I misheard you.
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Luis 3:57PM (3/11/2008)
"The data was collected through ten volunteer subjects placed in a diesel EXHAUST filled room for one hour (sound like fun?), that mimicked the environment of a busy street or parking garage"This is the portion of the blog to which I make reference...Please read before replying...
TriShield 2:42PM (3/11/2008)
This isn't the first study confirming that diesel emissions are quite dangerous compared to those of gasoline engines.
TTAC had an execellent article on the reality of mainstream diesel engines.
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/editorials/the-truth-about-diesels-2/
The Australian government also conducted an extensive study on diesel emissions and it's not pretty.
http://blogs.drive.com.au/2007/06/the_truth_about_diesel.html
http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=40556&vf=12&pg=1
Let Europe deal with their diesel smog, we'll deal with hybrids.
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