[Peakoil-announce] Car fumes driving us to early grave

[Magarey Paul]

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

BTRE report at: http://www.btre.gov.au/docs/workingpapers/wp63/wp63.pdf

>From Sydney Morning Herald today:

Car fumes driving us to early grave
By Alexandra Smith and Julie Robotham

July 30, 2005

Pollution from cars may be prematurely killing as many as 2000
Australians each year and causing another 2000 asthma attacks.

The residents most at risk from car fumes live in the Sydney suburbs of
Lane Cove, Leichhardt, Concorde, Bankstown, Fairfield, Marrickville,
Campbelltown and Blacktown, a new study reveals.
It says about 4500 people are thought to be treated in hospital each
year as a result of car-related pollution, while the Federal Government
estimates the health impact costs at least $2.7 billion a year.

The study - the first of its kind by the Bureau of Transport and
Regional Economics - found that in 2000 air pollution from cars caused
between 900 and 2000 early deaths, and was responsible for as many as
4500 cases of cardio-vascular and respiratory diseases and bronchitis.
"Similarly, motor vehicle-related air pollution is estimated to have
contributed to between 700 and 2050 asthma attacks in Australia," it
says.

Children may be more vulnerable than adults because they inhale more air
for their body weight. As well, they may spend more time outdoors and
their growing organs may be more susceptible to damage. Several studies
have demonstrated a higher prevalence of chronic cough among children
living close to main roads.

The study says sulfur dioxide, lead and carbon monoxide levels have been
dramatically reduced in Australia and other developed countries in
recent years but air particles remain a serious health threat. Particles
can cause breathing problems, exacerbate respiratory diseases such as
asthma and, depending on the nature of the particles, can be
carcinogenic, the study says.
"Emission control technology and changes in fuel standards have reduced
motor vehicle air pollution emissions," it says. "But emissions of fine
particles and volatile organic compounds [released from burning fuel]
from road vehicles remain the main concern for transport-related health
risks."

The study warns that even though Australian cities have low pollution
levels, particularly in comparison with Los Angles or Athens, there is
still a potential health risk.
"Recent research has implicated ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate
matter - all pollutants formed from vehicle exhausts - as contributing
factors to asthma-related hospital admissions and mortality," the study
says.

The bureau's study, which analyses the results of previous international
studies on pollution, says that while scientists have long known that
pollution worsens the suffering of asthmatics, more recent science
suggests it may actually cause asthma.

Andrew Tonkin, the National Heart Foundation's chief medical officer,
said: "It's fair to say health professionals tend to ignore this area
but the public is very concerned. This [report] really substantiates the
drive for cleaner vehicles and improved city planning and I applaud the
transport department for looking at this."

Sydney researchers revealed this week that they had detected a link
between higher pollution levels and reduced birthweight in babies in the
metropolitan area, suggesting the noxious effects of traffic fumes may
cross the placenta to the developing foetus.
Guy Marks, the head of epidemiology at the Woolcock Institute of Medical
Research, said it was difficult to quantify to what degree pollution
contributed to overall rates of asthma and other lung conditions.

Laboratory experiments in which people were subjected to pollutants
could sometimes establish levels at which they caused obvious changes to
body functions. However, it was harder to know how people might respond
to long-term, lower levels of exposure, and to separate any effects from
others such as diet.