NATURA
- Jul 6
- 5 min read

The Science of Exhaust Gas

Updated: Jul 19

This time, I researched exhaust gases emitted from cars ☀️☀️

Although people living in cities are aware of exhaust gases from cars, they often don’t pay much attention to them. Exhaust gases actually contain harmful chemicals, with the main pollutants being carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur compounds.✨✨

These pollutants are released into the air, and naturally, we end up inhaling a lot of these exhaust gases.😂😂

Exhaust gases have been found to have neurotoxic and genotoxic (DNA-damaging) effects and are harmful to the human body!

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified diesel exhaust as a Group 1 carcinogen and has reported clear evidence linking diesel exhaust to lung cancer.✨✨

However, there is a catch in the research. Studies that provide evidence often use high concentrations of diesel exhaust, measured by the exposure to elemental carbon (EC). Other studies have found no evidence of increased lung cancer risk from exposure to low concentrations of diesel exhaust.

Additionally, there is an interesting study that found no significant link between non-smokers inhaling low concentrations of diesel exhaust and lung cancer risk. Surprisingly, smokers who inhaled diesel exhaust had a lower lung cancer risk.😂😂

A study conducted in 14 hospital-based reports from Canada 🇨🇦 and 13 European countries investigated the increased lung cancer risk among various occupations frequently exposed to exhaust gases. It found that longer exposure times in men were associated with a higher risk of developing lung cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.✨✨

Even when comparing smokers and non-smokers, longer exposure to exhaust gases was related to an increased lung cancer risk, regardless of smoking status.✨✨

Experiments with truck drivers also showed a positive correlation between the length of their careers and an increased lung cancer risk. Workers in the mining industry also faced higher lung cancer risks.

Meta-regression analysis from three occupations indicated that increased exposure to exhaust gases over a year was associated with a higher lung cancer risk.

Experiments in Canada, Finland, and Sweden showed that increased exposure to exhaust gases significantly raised the risks of squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.✨✨

However, these findings were reported in men and not observed in women.✨✨

Interestingly, a 2024 American study reported a 1.4% increase in lung cancer risk over the past five years in the U.S., especially among Native Americans, attributed to habitual smoking. A study targeting 40 countries projected lung cancer risk trends up to 2035. It suggested that in the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand, the lung cancer risk in men would decrease while it might increase in women by 2035.

In conclusion, various studies indicate that increased exposure to exhaust gases over a year is associated with a higher lung cancer risk, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma, but not in women.✨✨

Books also mention that exhaust gases contain various harmful substances, such as PM2.5 and mercury compounds (heavy metals). Therefore, people living in high-traffic areas should wear masks 😷 and take measures to protect themselves from exhaust gases.

Unfortunately, masks 😷 cannot prevent the inhalation of volatile mercury, so it is necessary to avoid walking along roadsides and take individual precautions.✨✨

Moreover, if possible, moving to a rural area with more nature instead of a city could be a great idea.👍👍

What do you think?✨✨

I researched the hidden dangers of exhaust gases that are close to us but often overlooked.😂😂

Thank you for reading ☀️☀️

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