Diesel Harms Human Health
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Other air toxics in diesel — such as toluene, lead, cadmium and mercury — are known to cause birth defects and reproductive problems. Diesel particulate matter (soot) triggers asthma and is linked to increased hospital admissions for respiratory and heart diseases. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 347,000 Oregonians suffer from asthma, including nearly 73,000 children.
Exposure to diesel exhaust is widespread in Oregon, with diesel particulate matter exceeding health benchmarks in 25 counties. Even in counties where ambient air concentrations meet health benchmarks, people live and work near concentrated sources of diesel exhaust (such as highways and construction sites) and are exposed to unsafe levels. Children, who breathe at twice the rate of adults, are particularly at risk from diesel pollution.
NASA research indicates that diesel soot is also a major contributor to global warming.Oregonian Savannah Teller Brown has produced a video documentary on diesel pollution in Oregon and solutions to clean our air.
The Oregon Environmental Council’s 2003 report, The Dirt on Diesel [PDF: 1.6 MB], discusses health impacts and solutions in greater depth.