Originally published August 21 2005
Exhaust emissions may contribute to child cancer cases, researcher claims
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A researcher from the University of Birmingham claims exhaust from engines contributes largely to childhood cancers and that children who grow up near emissions hotspots like bus or train stations are at a 12 times greater risk of dying from cancer compared to other children.
Prof Knox looked at data on 22,500 children who died from cancer in Britain between 1955 and 1980, taking into account where they lived and nearby emissions hotspots for specific chemicals.
These hotspots were identified from published maps of atmospheric pollution levels and included chemicals such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, 1,3-butadiene and benzene dioxins.
The researcher also located emissions sources including bus and train stations, transport hubs, oil installations and hospitals.
He then compared the number of deaths from childhood cancer that would be expected in a particular area with the actual number of deaths that occurred.
Prof Knox said that children had a higher risk of cancer if they lived within 0.3 kilometres of a chemical emissions hotspot.
Youngsters also faced an increased risk if they lived within 1km of an emissions source, such as a transport hub.
The researcher suggested that 1,3-butadiene and carbon monoxide - both produced by vehicle exhausts and particularly diesel engines - were among the biggest culprits.
He said that when combined with living close to an emissions source, such as a bus or coach station, a child had a 12 times higher risk of dying from cancer than other youngsters.
Professor Knox concluded: "Childhood cancers are strongly determined by prenatal or early postnatal exposures to oil based combustion gases, especially from engine exhausts.
1,3 butadiene, a known carcinogen, may be directly causal."
Earlier this year Professor Knox published research saying that most childhood cancers are "probably" caused by exposure to pollutants while babies are still in the womb.
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