Hummer and Cancer Fact Sheet

“The quality of the air we breathe, both indoors and out, has a great impact on lung health. Fragile lung tissue is easily damaged by pollutants in the air, resulting in increased risk of asthma and allergies, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.”

“In addition to the six pollutants for which air quality standards have been set, toxic air pollution, also referred to as hazardous air pollution, consists of those substances in the air which are known or suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation, birth defects or other serious illnesses in people even at relatively low exposure levels.

Toxic and cancer-causing chemicals can be inhaled directly or carried by small particles into the lungs. Millions of pounds of these chemicals are emitted into the air over our nation every year by motor vehicles and by both large and small industry.”

“Air pollution contributes to lung disease, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and lung cancer.
Lung disease claims close to 335,000 lives in America every year and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. Over the last decade, the death rate for lung disease has risen faster than that of any of the top five causes of death.”

“In 1996, transportation sources were responsible for 47% of pollutant emissions. When examined by pollutant, 79% of carbon monoxide pollution is attributable to transportation, compared with 31% of nitrogen oxides, 41.5% of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 2.8% of particulate matter (less than 10 microns) and 14.6% of lead emitted into the air.”

Above quotes are from the American Lung Association.
http://www.lungusa.org

From the Canadian Lung Association:

"Exhaust from vehicles (cars, trucks, buses) as well as off-road engines (lawn mowers, snow mobiles) causes significant health and environmental risk. The combustion of fossil fuels such as gasoline and diesel creates numerous air pollutants. Although emission technology is improving, vehicle use is increasing. Thus transportation continues to be a major source of air pollution.

Outdoor Air Quality and Environmental Problems

Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect and climate change. Your car produces twice its weight in carbon dioxide each year. About 30% of all CO2 emissions in Canada come from road vehicles.

Vehicles also contribute to smog and acid rain, producing 19% of nitrogen oxides, 23% of volatile organic compounds (which together create ground level ozone, a major component of smog) and 37% of the total carbon monoxide released each year as a result of human activity.

The production of particulate matter (PM) less than 10_m is associated particularly with the combustion of carbon-based and sulphur-based chemicals such as gasoline and diesel. PM is a component of smog, is deposited as soot, can accumulate in the upper atmosphere and affect climate change, and when inhaled can cause serious health effects.

The health effects of PM are varied and may be dependent on the size, shape, and chemical makeup of the particles. Exposure has been linked with mild symptoms such as coughing and wheezing, with exacerbation of preexisting conditions such as bronchitis and COPD, and with serious health effects including cancer, heart attacks and strokes."

From Health Canada:
“Exposure to several occupational substances is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, specifically asbestos, arsenic, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (also contained in motor vehicle exhaust),…”

More Quotes:
“Growing up close to a roadway that carries more than 20,000 vehicles per day increases the risk of certain child cancers by 600% according to one U.S. study.”

“As many as ONE FIFTH of all urban lung cancer deaths are caused by miniscule particles called particulate matter. Most originate from internal combustion engines. Some of the strongest carcinogens known to man are found in vehicle exhaust.”

Source: http://www.bettertransit.ab.ca/brochures/air.pdf and
American Journal of Epidemiology (2002);

“According to a Denver study published last year, children who live within 1500 feet of streets carrying 20,000 vehicles per day have a six-fold increased risk for cancer, including leukemia. There is growing agreement among health professionals that diesel exhaust presents a significant health risk, particularly an increased cancer risk. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health advises employers to “reduce exposures to the lowest feasible limits.” The Association of Local Air Pollution Control Officials reports that diesel particulates are responsible for about 125,000 cancer deaths in the United States annually. The World Health Organization reports that vehicular air pollution causes increased cases of bronchitis in children, hospital admissions for those with heart disease, asthma attacks in children and premature deaths from respiratory or heart diseases. ”

http://www.rockymountainbullhorn.com/Archives/November%202001/i25corridor.html

From the March 6th 2002 Journal of the American Medical Association:

“A new study published in the March 6th issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association links long-term exposure to fine particles of air pollution to lung cancer. Scientists have known for several years that short-term exposure to larger particles of this pollutant can result in aggravated asthma, increases in respiratory symptoms like coughing and difficult or painful breathing, chronic bronchitis, and decreased lung function — all possibly contributing to premature death. This, however, is the first study to link long-term exposure of fine particulate matter and cancer.
…
The researchers analyzed data from over a half-a-million adults who were surveyed as part of an ongoing study by the American Cancer Society from 1982 to 1998. The researchers took into account other factors, such as smoking history, diet, weight, age, sex, and occupational exposures to pollutants, and still found that the number of deaths from lung cancer increases by up to 8 to 12 percent in the most polluted areas.”

More studies linking traffic pollution and cancer:

1. Pope CA, Burnett RT, Thun MJ, Calle EE, Krewski D, Ito K, Thurston G. Lung Cancer, Cardiopulmonary Mortality, and Long-term Exposure to Fine Particulate Air Pollution. JAMA 2002; 287(9):1132-1141
2. Pope CA III, Dockery DW. 1999. Epidemiology of particle effects. In: Air Pollution and Health (Holgate ST, Samet JM, Koren HS, Maynard RL, eds). Academic Press, San Diego CA.
3. Samet JM, Cohen AJ. Air Pollution and Lung Cancer. In: Air Pollution and Health (Holgate ST, Samet JM, Koren HS, Maynard RL, eds). Academic Press, San Diego CA

A summary of these studies can be found at:
http://www.giss.nasa.gov/meetings/pollution02/d4/anderson.html

Note that in the summary the researchers sugest that the combination of cardiorespiratory disease and cancers from air pollution result in about 0.6 million premature deaths globally.

90% from Motor Vehicles
The Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study II (MATES II) published by South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)- the air quality control agency in Southern California. Overall, the study showed that motor vehicles and other mobile sources accounted for about 90% of the cancer risk associated with air pollution.

More studies that link traffic pollution to increased cancer:

Jermann E, Hajimiragha H, Brockhaus A, Freier I, Ewers U, Roscovanu A: Exposure of children to benzene and other motor vehicle emissions. Zentralblatt fur Hygiene und Umweltmedizin 189:50-61, 1989.

Szagun and Seidel. (2000). Mortality due to road traffic in Baden-Aurttemberg - air pollution, accidents, noise. Gesundheitswesen. 62(4): 225-33.

Hoek, Brunekreef, Goldbohn, Fischer, van den Brandt. (2002). Association between mortality and indicators of traffic-related air pollution in the Netherlands: a cohort study. Lancet, 360 (9341): 1203-9.

Thanks to "Tinfoil Hat" for helping compile these facts.

Traffic Pollution and Cancer Fact Sheet