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Diesel exhaust provokes cancer development
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
The World Health Organization has concluded that diesel exhaust causes lung cancer and bladder cancer.
Experts attending a WHO conference in Lyon, France, spent a week studying the latest research from scientists around the world that traced the link between inhaling diesel fumes and cancer.
After deliberating, the commission came to the conclusion that it was necessary to raise the level of danger of diesel exhaust to humans from "most likely a carcinogen" to "definitely a carcinogen."
Scientists say that while the risk of developing cancer from inhaling diesel fumes is low, it should be treated like passive smoking because everyone inhales diesel exhaust in one way or another.
Those most at risk are truck drivers, auto repair shop mechanics and heavy industry workers. Pedestrians, ship passengers and owners of private diesel vehicles are at lesser risk, but still at risk.