Pollution from car brake-wear more harmful for lungs than diesel exhaust: Study

Exposure to pollution from car brake wear can prove to be more harmful to the lungs than diesel exhaust according to a studyThe study led by researchers from the University of Southampton in the UK emphasised that focusing on particulate matter PM exhaust emissions alone may be inadequate to mitigate the health effects of vehiclederived pollutionAirborne PM25 is known to reach the alveolar regions of the lungs and is associated with more than 4 million premature deaths per year worldwide While road traffic diesel exhaust emissions is a major source of PM in urban environments nonexhaust emissions especially from brake wear represent an increasing component of trafficrelated PM about which there is a paucity of informationThe researchers argued that car brake wear is also not on the target list in exhaust emission reduction measuresIn the paper published in the journal Particle and Fibre Toxicology the team found that brakewear particulate matter from copperenriched nonasbestos organic and ceramic brake pads induced ldquothe greatest oxidative stress inflammationrdquo on lungsIt also affected a pathway implicated in diseases associated with air pollution exposure including cancer and pulmonary fibrosis as well as causing perturbation of metabolismldquoWe demonstrate here that brakewear PM may perturb cellular homeostasis more than diesel exhaust PM Our findings demonstrate the potential differences in effects not only for nonexhaust vs exhaust PM but also amongst different sources of nonexhaust PMrdquo said James G H Parkin School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences University of SouthamptonThe study demonstrated that copperenriched brakewear PM has a greater detrimental effect than diesel exhaust PM The perturbations caused by copperenriched PM have the potential to contribute to the development and progression of a range of diseases negatively impacting healthy living and lifespanldquoOur results suggest that current legislation which focuses on PM exhaust emissions may be inadequate to mitigate the health effects of vehiclederived PM and that regulations also need to target not only nonexhaust PM emissions but also specific components of PMrdquo Parkin addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever