Healthbuzz

Child cancer ‘exhaust fume risk’

by LaVonne on 12/08/05 at 10:13 am

Source: BBC

Children who live close to major transport hubs are more at risk of dying of cancer, a study says.

University of Birmingham researchers found those living within 500 metres of a bus station were six times more likely to die of cancer.

The study also said railways and hospitals increased the risk. For all the sites, exhaust fume pollution was identified as the primary cause.

But experts said the findings should be treated with caution.

Researchers analysed details about the deaths of 22,500 children between 1955 and 1980 from cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and brain and spinal cancers, the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health reported.

The results of this study should be interpreted with considerable caution and people should not be alarmed by its claims
Ruth Yates, of Cancer Research UK

They found carbon monoxide and 1,3-butadiene, both of which are produced by vehicle exhausts and particularly diesel engines, were the major cause of the increased risk.

But other chemicals, including nitrogen oxides and dioxins, were also cited in the report.

They calculated there could be a 12-fold increase in risk for children living near bus stations and emission hotspots.

Living in close proximity to hospitals increased the risk by 2.5 times, mainly because of the increased transport around the sites and the use of incinerators.

Railways and oil industry were also highlighted as increasing the risk.
Full story >>