Short-Term Exposure To Diesel Fumes Causes Changes In Gene Expression

BarbaraHudson writes: The Vancouver Sun is reporting on experiments using human volunteers showing that just two hours of exposure to diesel exhaust fumes led to biological changes; some genes were switched on while others turned off. The air quality during the diesel fume exposures is said to be comparable to a Beijing highway or shipping ports in British Columbia. The next step is for researchers to study how changes in gene expression from air pollution affect the human body over the long term, since the study shows genes may be vulnerable to pollution without producing any obvious or immediate symptoms of ill health."

Comments

A "dumb" study? No, not really.

[Anonymous Coward]

Short term exposure to a common pollutant causes massive mutation possibilities, and coupled with the rise in cancers (noted along major highways for example) perhaps you're too dumb to study this study instead?

Re:No control experiment

[X0563511]

Rather I think the important bit here is the revelation that common air pollutants affect gene expression, not the effects of such expression. The mechanism is the important part.

I assume they had a control group... is that a correct assumption?

Re:No control experiment

[MightyMartian]

Why should making a specific industry stop causing us harm require the industry find profit in it? Shouldn't it be enough to demonstrate the harm and industry then stop the harm? Frankly if an industry requires a profit motive to stop hurting us, then that industry needs serious reforms at a root level.