Reporting Publication

Journal Of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

November 2003

Research Institution

ULCA’s  David Geffen School Of Medicine 

Original research by

Dr Andre Nell

Summery findings

That diesel exhaust particles alone may be enough to incite acute asthma attacks. This research separates the effects of diesel particles, from the effects of allergens such as pollen. When researchers administered aersolised diesel particles to mice to stimulate inhalation of air pollution particles, an acute asthma like condition resulted

Reporting Publication

Presentation to British Thoracic Society. Reported by Channel 4 12/03

Research Institution

University of Leicester

Original research by

Dr. Jonathan Brigg of the Leicester Children's Asthma Centre

Summery findings

The nearer a child lives to a main road, the more likely he or she is to suffer coughing attacks. Research scientists studied the health of nearly 3,500 children aged one to five and found that for every 100 metres closer they lived to a main road, incidence of coughs increased by 3 percent.

Said Dr Briggs "We know that small particles from diesel exhaust are one of the most dangerous air pollutants, since they can penetrate deep into a child's lungs. Our study into the health effects of living near road traffic has provided clear evidence that particles from vehicles are a significant irritant on the airways of young children."

Reporting Publication

BBC News

2/8/2000

Research Institution

Health Effects Institute in Massachusetts, US

Original research by

Summery findings

The study was of findings from a number of previous studies into the effects of pollution on public health. The analysis found strong agreement in the previous studies, that people living in cities were more likely to die younger because of pollution. One of the previous studies examined, suggested that people in the most polluted city Steubenville in Ohio had a 26% change of dying young compared with residents in the cleanest city Portage, Wisconsin.

Reporting Publication

 various

Research Institution

Lancaster University

Original research by

Summery findings

15 million people suffer ill health as a result of traffic fumes and that there are some 10000 premature deaths per year as a result of traffic pollution

Reporting Publication

BBC World Service

19/3/2001

Research Institution

University Of California

Original research by

Summery findings

Study into the effects of exposure to ozone, which is a constituent of traffic smog. Research on rhesus monkeys concluded that after living in an environment ‘similar to Mexico City’ for only a few months the young animals had developed symptoms of borderline asthma, These symptoms included reduced lung capacity, and an apparently increase sensitivity to the dust mite allergen, wheezing when exposed to it for a short period of time.

Reporting Publication

Asthma News July 1998

Research Institution

St Bartholomews and the Royal London School Of Medicine and Dentistry

Original research by

Dr Jagdish Devalia

Summery findings

Tests involved exposing cells taken from the lining of human airways to diesel exhaust particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. The pollutants triggered a range of cellular activities linked with the process of inflammation. When the samples of tissue taken from healthy subjects was compared with those from people with asthma a significant difference in cell response was noted, Those samples from asthmatics were capable of producing greater quantities and types of specific inflammatory compounds 

Reporting Publication

BBC News 6/5/99

Research Institution

various

Original research by

various

Summery findings

In an article drawing from numerous items of research, the BBC mentioned the following in an article on exhaust emissions

·          Air pollution, of which vehicle emissions are a major contributor are responsible for 24000 premature deaths in the UK each year. Many are due to asthma bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases, which are known to be aggravated by exposure to car fumes

·          One in every 50 heart attacks in London are triggered by air pollution.

·          Benzene, a major gaseous component in car exhaust, has a suppressive effect on bone marrow and impairs the development of red blood cells

·          Toxic chemicals may stimulate the immune system to attack the bodies own tissues, particularly the cells that line human blood vessels

·          Substances such as benzene, nitrogen dioxide and small particulate matter interact with the immune system and may cause changes ranging from overactive immune responses to immunosuppression.

·          Long term exposure to benzene has been shown to be linked to leukaemia

·          Polycyclic hydrocarbons are thought to be carcinogenic

Reporting Publication

??

Research Institution

National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan.

Original research by

Yueliang Leon Guo

Summery findings

In a study of 800 Taiwanese schools, air pollution levels and cases of allergic rhinitis, or hay fever were compared. Boys exposed to high levels of air pollution had a 16% higher risk of hay fever, whilst for girls the showed 17% higher risk.

Yueliang Leon Guo

‘ Our results support the increasingly popular hypothesis that exposure to traffic pollution modifies children’s susceptibility to allergens’

Reporting Publication

 Various

Thought to have been made public in October 2003

Research Institution

World Health Organisation, European Centre for Environment and Health

Original research by

Dr Carlos Dora

Summery findings

Emissions from car exhausts are responsible for more deaths than road accidents. The study of 3 European countries (not Britain) found that the number of people dying from cardiovascular problems which could be attributed to car fumes far outweighed the death toll from crashes.  1/3 of harmful particulate air pollution is caused by road transport and that approx 21000 premature deaths across the 3 countries per year, where caused by long term expose to pollution.`  Researchers calculated that car fumes caused 300000 extra cases of Bronchitis in children, and 15000 extra hospital admissions for heart disease made worse by the pollution.

Reporting Publication

The Lancet

March 99

Research Institution

University Of Groningen In The Netherlands

Original research by

Dr Marike Boezen

Summery findings

Out of a data collection sample of 459 children 119 had both bronchial hyper responsiveness and allergies. When those children were compared to the remainder the following findings were noted.

When air pollution was higher these children were significantly more likely to experience breathing problems. When there were pollutants larger than 10 micrometers in the air these children were 139% more likely to suffer. When there were more of the pollutants that make up car exhaust fumes e.g. nitrogen dioxide, black smoke, and sulphur dioxide they were up to 131% more likely to have symptoms

Reporting Publication

Asthma News July 1998

Research Institution

The Committee on Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP)

(expert body that advises the UK’s Department of Health)

Original research by

Summery findings

The report, The Quantification Of the Effects of Air Pollution on Health in the United Kingdom, is the first ever government study into the health effects of fumes from vehicles and industry. It estimates that every year between 12000 and 14000 premature deaths and up to 24000 hospital admissions, could be linked to short term exposure to poor quality air

Reporting Publication

Lancet

1/9/00

Research Institution

Basle University, Switzerland

Original research by

Nino Kunzli

Summery findings

Analysis of deaths in France, Austria and Switzerland shows 6% of all deaths, about 40000 per year, stem from air pollution, around half due to tiny particles in vehicle exhausts, particularly diesel. In addition traffic fumes cause 25000 new cases of chronic bronchitis in adults, 290000 cases in children and more than 500000 asthma attacks. Extrapolation to UK situation would indicate between 10000 and 19000 deaths per year caused by air pollution, as indicated by Dept of Health and Friends of the earth respectively

Reporting Publication

New Scientist

9/3/2002

Research Institution

University Of Birmingham & New York University

Original research by

Roy Harrison & George Thurston

Summery findings

Up to a fifth of all lung cancer deaths in cities are caused by tiny particles of pollution, most of them from vehicle exhausts. Having a research method that separated out the effects of smokers, the researchers concluded that the death rate from lung cancer rose by 8 % for every 10 microgram in the concentration of PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 microns size) per m3. Concentrations around the world vary but typical levels are 20 micrograms in Los Angeles, 16 in New York. British levels are similar, but London has a particular problem with a high incidence of diesel engines that make a concentration of 32 micrograms for at Marylebone Road typical.

Reporting Publication

Asthma News July 1998

Research Institution

Original research by

National Asthma Campaign

Summery findings

Impact Of Asthma Survey results shows that 81% of people with asthma regard air pollution as a factor that affected them.

Reporting Publication

European Respiratory Journal

Research Institution

University Children’s Hospital in Munich

Original research by

Thomas Nicolai

Summery findings

The health records of nearly 4000 children where compared with traffic density and exposure to pollutants. Youngsters living within 50 m of roads where more than 33000 vehicles passes each day were almost twice as likely to suffer from asthma than other children. ‘High vehicle traffic was associated with asthma, cough and wheeze.

Reporting Publication

BBC News 5/2/99

Research Institution

California Air Resources Board

Original research by

University Of Southern California

Summery findings

There appears to be a marked difference between the sexes response to air pollution. Boys are more likely to be affected by ozone, however girls are more affected by high levels of particle pollutants like dust and nitrogen dioxide that come mainly from vehicle exhaust. The study shows that both sexes suffered from pollution related ill health. Children in the most polluted communities covered by the research had lung growth about 5% lower than normal. Coughing and wheezing among asthmatics was found to be more severe in areas with higher levels of nitrogen oxide and particle pollution 

Reporting Publication

Asthma News July 1998

Research Institution

Agricultural University of Wageningen in the Netherlands

Original research by

Summery findings

A strong link was found between rises in levels of black smoke (tiny particles such as those found in diesel fumes) and the use of asthma medication by local children

Reporting Publication

United Press International

1999

Research Institution

Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stockholm

Original research by

 Professor Goran Pershagen

Summery findings

Researching links between traffic fumes and lung cancer, found that those people living over a 30 year period in areas with the heaviest traffic pollution have a 40% higher risk of developing lung cancer and those who lived in such areas for 10 years have a 20% increased chance of developing the condition. Professor Pershagen points out that this research was carried out in Stockholm, which has relatively light traffic compared with other major world cities. 

Reporting Publication

New Zealand Govt. Dept Of Labour 20/5/02

Research Institution

Occupational Safety and Health Service of the Department of Labour

Original research by

Dr Evan Dryson

Summery findings

A study of cancers and occupations found that there was a particular high correlation between truck and vehicle drivers and incidence of bladder cancer. The results concluded that 8% of all cancers are due to occupational causes; however the figure rises to 25% for bladder cancer in particular. In a sample of 123 with bladder cancer 33 were previously engaged in occupations that cause bladder cancer and of those 10 were truck drivers. ‘There appears to be higher risks associated with diesel fumes, but non diesel truck drivers are also at risk due to traffic fumes in general’

Reporting Publication

 Various July 31^st 2002

Research Institution

University Of  Naples

Original research by

Dr Michael De Rosa

Summery findings

That continuous exposure to traffic pollutants impairs the sperm quality in young and middle aged men. A comparison between 85 men who where exposed to traffic fumes for approx 6 hours per working daily with 85 from the same area and who did not have this level of exposure, concluded that the former group had poorer sperm quality and had lower sperm motility, which means that they are less likely to be able to fertilise the female egg. The reason was thought to be due to exposure to nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide and lead.

Reporting Publication

Research Institution

AvD German Equivalent to the Automobile Association

Original research by

Summery findings

Accident statistics in Germany in May show a significant increase because of pollen from spring blossoms. AvD predicts a one to thirty percent higher accident risk for allergy sufferers. One fifth of all road users have their performance and reaction abilities restricted by allergies

Reporting Publication

AQMD. South Coast Air Quality Management District

June 10 1999

Research Institution

Research Triangle Institute Of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Original research by

Summery findings

Using 3 test cars rigged with monitoring equipment in the cabin the study found that levels of some air pollutants are up to 10 times higher inside vehicles than in outside air. Specifically the study found levels of volatile organic compounds; including benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MBTE) as well as carbon monoxide were up to 10 times higher inside vehicles than at fixed monitoring stations. The variations depended on the pollutants, the type of road, the level of traffic and the type of vehicle being followed.

Reporting Publication

Air Quality Issues, Vol. 3, Issue 3, January 1998

Research Institution

Environmental Transport Association Trust (ETA) of United Kingdom (study for the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR))

Original research by

Atmospheric Research and Information Centre, Dept. of Environmental & Geographical Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University

Summery findings

Study concludes that air pollution inside cars can be up to five times greater than background concentrations. Pedestrians and cyclists are usually exposed to lower concentrations of pollutants because they tend to be at the side of the road rather than in the middle. Car users are, in effect, travelling in a tunnel of pollutants. Factors that increase levels of pollutants in cars include low wind speeds, slow moving traffic, vehicle age and faulty exhaust systems. Rush hour conditions in urban areas were revealed as contributing to the highest concentrations in vehicles, particularly levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon monoxide. The amount of ventilation inside the car seems to have little impact on air pollution level. A similar study in Australia found benzene levels in cars up to 11 times greater than ambient levels. For older cars without catalytic converters, exposure was up to 27 times greater during urban commuting trips. This suggests that the pollution levels in cars relate to a combination of emissions from the cars own exhaust emissions and those from other vehicles on the road