Australian study shows throat cells killed by diesel, not biodiesel

An Australian study reports on the damage caused to throat cells from diesel exhaust, while finding little or no negative impact from biodiesel.

Leigh Ackland, Associate Head of Deakin’s School of Life and Environmental Sciences, who led the research, said: “Particulate matter is the burnt material, including carbon particles, emitted into the air. This particulate matter is part of biodiesel and diesel fumes but the particles produced from biodiesel were much less damaging to the cells than particles produced from diesel.”

“Our research found that the particulate matter from diesel exhaust stimulated a ‘death pathway’ response that the body uses to dispose of damaged cells.” continued Professor Ackland. “This response caused the airway cells to fuse together and die.”

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