Autoblog

Car emissions can turn good cholesterol bad

Jeffrey N. Ross — Tue, 21 May 2013 18:33:00 EST

Before you head to the pharmacy to refill your Lipitor prescription, check this out. The American Heart Association's journal on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology has concluded that high levels of vehicle emissions can cause high cholesterol in mice, which could indicate that air pollution is a contributing factor in high cholesterol or vascular disease.

In the study, mice were exposed to diesel exhaust for two weeks "at a particulate mass concentration within the range of what mine workers usually are exposed to" (according to UCLA), which, not surprisingly, had a negative effect on the bloodstream. First, the air pollution altered the HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein, a.k.a. "good cholesterol") to the point that the positive properties of the protein were reduced and could lead to high levels of LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein, "bad cholesterol") and hardening of the arteries. While this seems like a study related to extreme pollution, it draws yet another linkage between our environments and our health.

Car emissions can turn good cholesterol bad originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 May 2013 18:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World Health Organization says diesel fumes cause cancer

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Diesel

Although no one ever believed that inhaling black, grit-filled smoke would do you any favors, the World Heath Organization notes that doing so is much worse than merely unkind: the WHO has officially decreed that inhaling diesel fumes can cause lung cancer and has added the fumes to its list of Group 1 Carcinogens, those known to cause cancer in humans. That puts diesel plumes in the same homicidal company as arsenic, strontium-90, neutron radiation and being a painter, and makes it worse than second-hand smoke.

However, according to The New York Times, scientists say you only need be concerned if your job or environment places you in direct, long-term contact with diesel exhaust. Workers like miners and toll collectors were mentioned as prime examples, with one study showing that miners subected to diesel fumes for years had a lung cancer risk that was seven times greater than nonsmokers. Just walking by an accelerating school bus or owning a diesel car won't be an issue, though. Said one scientist, "I don't think it's bad to have a diesel car. I don't think it's good to breathe its exhaust."

The American Cancer Society is expected to follow the WHO's move shortly. If your job or corner of the world makes this a troubling bit of news, you might find some temporary solace by noting one of the other hugely popular substances lumped with diesel exhaust in the Group 1 Carcinogens: alcoholic beverages.

World Health Organization says diesel fumes cause cancer originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jun 2012 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch what happens when this kid sticks his face in front of a muffler

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor, Diesel

Robbie gets a face full of soot - Click above to watch the video after the break

Before watching the video pasted after the break, it's important to consider an oft-overlooked fact of life. For each person of greater-than-average intelligence, there's one at the opposite end of the smart scale.

With that out of the way, we urge you to check out the video after the break. You'll be introduced to Robbie, a young man with a piece of black tape on his forehead. Robbie is about to demonstrate what happens when you stick your face in front of the tailpipe of what we believe is a full-size diesel-powered Dodge Ram pickup truck.

Why? Ostensibly it's to find out how much soot is expelled from said tailpipe. For the real reason why this exercise was carried out, please refer to the first paragraph of this post. See the rather predictable results in the video after the break.

Thanks for taking one for the team, Robbie.

Continue reading Watch what happens when this kid sticks his face in front of a muffler

Watch what happens when this kid sticks his face in front of a muffler originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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