Diesel fumes pose high risk to diabetics

ISLAMABAD: Exposure to diesel fumes, for even few hours, is putting diabetics at a higher risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, a study has found.

Nano Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEP) enter the blood stream of diabetic patients through the nasal/respiratory tract and cause systemic inflammation (swelling) of heart tissues and other vital organs, proves the study, Health News reported.

Exposure of between 24-48 hours can have an acute effect on the patients by causing a risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory issues, while long-term chronic effects can lead to the development of cancer cells in the human body.

Though harmful environmental particles affect healthy humans as well, the effect is greater on diabetic patients, said Prof Abderrahim Nemmar who carried out the two-year study at the UAE University's Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The experiment was carried out on mice with Type 1 (genetically inherited) diabetes with the dose of particle exposure comparable to human exposure. According to the professor, similar international environmental studies have proved that pollutants can affect the heart and brain.