Renewable fuels can be just as hazardous as diesel exhaust – forskning.se

In the transition from fossil to renewable fuels, the focus has been primarily on the environmental impact. But even climate-friendly fuels can cause adverse health effects. Example, it is well known that the combustion of these fuels are formed small particles, which can contribute to the development of myocardial infarction. It is also clear that exposure to ordinary diesel exhaust leads to increased blood clot formation and impairs blood vessels’ ability to dilate.

The World Health Organization estimates that millions of people die prematurely due to emissions from traffic and smoke from burning. Nevertheless, it is unclear exactly what role the different fuels have regarding health effects.

In order to study this in more detail Jon Unosson in her thesis, among other things had healthy research subjects inhale dilute diesel and Biodiesel exhaust to investigate whether one can get health benefits of switching to biodiesel. The studies show, however, that the effects on blood vessels was equally strong for both of these fuels, despite the exhaust gas components differed markedly.

Both in Sweden and abroad, it is very common that one is exposed to particles from wood burning. Unlike diesel exhaust knows very little about the impact of wood smoke has on the heart and blood vessels. In a study in which Jon Unosson, a PhD student at the Department of folkhälksa and Clinical Medicine, sounded healthy research subjects inhaling wood smoke, it was found that the blood vessels were stiffer and that the heart rate was adversely affected in connection with the exposure. In contrast, there were no adverse effects on blood clotting or blood vessels’ ability to dilate when firefighters were exposed to wood smoke. The particles in wood smoke are larger and have different chemistry than exhaust particles, and this may be one explanation for why not wood smoke has the same effect on blood vessels that diesel exhaust.

– The studies in this thesis show that the accepted measures for the assessment of air pollution can not predict health effects in full. Biodiesel Exhaust gases were as dangerous as diesel exhaust, even though they contained a smaller mass of particles, while wood smoke produced less impact despite high mass concentration. The transition to renewable energy is an excellent opportunity to improve public health, but it requires taking into account the health effects of possible emissions, says Jon Unosson.

The dissertation is published digitally

Facts
Jon Unosson comes from Boras. He works as a doctor at Varberg Hospital and is a PhD student at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University.

On Friday 12 December at. 09:00 defend Jon Unosson, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, his thesis titled: Acute cardiovascular effects of exposure to biomass exhaust . (English title: Acute cardiovascular effects of biofuel exhaust exposure). Room D, building 1D, Norrland University. Opponent: Matthew Campen, Associate Professor, University of New Mexico. Supervisor: Jenny Bosson. Umeå University