Motores Diesel Y Cancer De Pulmon

PRESS RELEASE
N° 213
12 June 2012

IARC: DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST CARCINOGENIC
Lyon, France, June 12, 2012 ‐‐ After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International
Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today
classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence
that exposure isassociated with an increased risk for lung cancer.
Background
In 1988, IARC classified diesel exhaust as probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). An Advisory Group
which reviews and recommends future priorities for the IARC Monographs Program had recommended
diesel exhaust as a high priority for re-evaluation since 1998.
There has been mounting concern about the cancer -causing potentialof diesel exhaust, particularly based
on findings in epidemiological studies of workers exposed in various settings. This was re -emphasized by
the publication in March 2012 of the results of a large US National Cancer Institute/National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health study of occupational exposure to such emissions in underground miners,
which showed an increased risk of deathfrom lung cancer in exposed workers (1).
Evaluation
The scientific evidence was reviewed thoroughly by the Working Group and overall it was concluded that
there was sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of diesel exhaust. The Working Group
found that diesel exhaust is a cause of lung cancer (sufficient evidence) and also noted a positive
association (limited evidence) with anincreased risk of bladder cancer (Group 1).
The Working Group concluded that gasoline exhaust was possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), a
finding unchanged from the previous evaluation in 1989.
Public health
Large populations are exposed to diesel exhaust in everyday life, whether through their occupation or
through the ambient air. People are exposed not only to motor vehicle exhaustsbut also to exhausts from
other diesel engines, including from other modes of transport (e.g. diesel trains and ships) and from power
generators.
Given the Working Group’s rigorous, independent assessment of the science, governments and other
decision-makers have a valuable evidence-base on which to consider environmental standards for diesel
exhaust emissions and to continue to work with theengine and fuel manufacturers towards those goals.
Increasing environmental concerns over the past two decades have resulted in regulatory action in North
America, Europe and elsewhere with successively tighter emission standards for both diesel and gasoline
engines. There is a strong interplay between standards and technology – standards drive technology and
new technology enables more stringent standards. For diesel engines, this required changes in the fuel
such as marked decreases in sulfur content, changes in engine design to burn diesel fuel more efficiently
and reductions in emissions through exhaust control technology.
However, while the amount of particulates and chemicals are reduced with these changes, it is not yet
clear how the quantitative and qualitative changes maytranslate into altered health effects; research into

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IARC: Diesel engines exhaust carcinogenic
this question is needed. In addition, existing fuels and vehicles without these modifications will take many
years to be replaced, particularly in less developed countries, where regulatory measures are currently
also less stringent. It is notable that many parts of the developing worldlack regulatory standards, a nd
data on the occurrence and impact of diesel exhaust are limited.
Conclusions
Dr Christopher Portier, Chairman of the IARC working Group, stated that “The scientific evidence was
compelling and the Working Group’s conclusion was unanimous: diesel engine exhaust causes lung
cancer in humans.” Dr Portier continued: “Given the additional health impacts from...