Nexus - 0226 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Many alkyl benzenes break down to benzene in the combustion process. Dr Michael Dawson says that approximately 50% of the benzene emitted from the exhaust comes from the actual benzene in the fuel, 40% is from the toluene (methyl benzene), and 10% from other aromatics in the fuel.' é Dr Simon Wolff, of University College London School of Medicine, was originally concerned about Britain's nuclear power- plants. He noticed a tenfold difference in childhood leukaemia rates between certain populations, so he began searching for explanations. He concluded that newer middle-class suburbs and towns with high levels of car ownership and use were the most at risk. Dr Wolff says that Britain's plan to cut benzene ievels to one p.p.b. is still not enough. “We should be aiming to lower the life- time risk of leukaemia to one in a million, compared with 10,000 at present. To achieve that we have to cut benzene levels by fifty- or one-hundredfold."” Children could develop cancer at much lower benzene exposure levels than adults, because they breathe faster, have much faster metabolism, and their bone marrow is more sensitive. Studies from Sweden have found unexpectedly high levels of leukaemia in petrol-station workers.” Dr Michael Dawson asks, "Why are oii companies allowed to substitute a carcinogen (or compounds which are converted to a Harald Notter, spokesman for the environment minister, aware that the Baden-Wiirttemberg case is unique in Germany, says, "Most of the German states approach the benzene issue with great caution, afraid of the costs and perhaps also of the results."’ In Britain in 1994, a cross-party group of MPs called on the government to ban sales of super unleaded petrol. The recommen- dation was one of many aimed at reducing air pollution. The MPs said that evidence "strongly suggests that the potential health hazards resulting from the excessive aromatics used...out- weigh any possible benefi ts from the reduced lead." They would also like the composition of petrol to be publicised so that people can judge for themselves the environmental effects of different types of fuels.'™"' In Switzerland, it is now compulsory for every petrol pump to be fitted with a negative-pressure vapour hood. This is a device that pumps all the air that is displaced by the petrol, into a holding tank. Therefore, the fumes do not escape into the atmosphere, and a little petrol actually recondenses in the holding tank. They also use this method in some parts of the US, but there are no plans to use these in Britain or Australia. a aE —" oo. snd iene HEALTH EFFECTS OF AROMATICS, ESPECIALLY BENZENE _ leukaemia in petrol- -station workers.” Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans, an occupational health expert, Dr Michael Dawson asks, “Why are oii companies allowed to believes the public had been misled by claims that by removing substitute a carcinogen (or compounds which are converted to a the lead from petrol, its negative environ- mental and health effects have been COUNTRY | SAMPLE DATE] GRADE = LEAD | SATURATES| OLEFINS | AROMATICS | OXYGENATE | BENZENE teduced. He says, P (%v/v) _| (%v/v) "We have been subject Winter 93/94 | Leaded [944 9.0(MTBE)| 1.1 | to a concentrated dis- Saat BRITAIN |June 1994 Premium | 97.7 | 0.126 : 7 25.7] 0.7 (MTBE)] 1.7 information campaign Leaded 0.1 (TAME) in the form of a seduc- Leaded 2 32.6 tively simple ‘no lead, ROSTER Oetib TaDa Leaded [96.4 0.216 | 58.4 ma 29.2 | 0.0 (MTBE) no worries’ message."* [i TaLy January 1993 | Premium | 98.0] 0.13 58.4 eee The US EPA claims January 1993 _| Premium | 98.3| 0.14 56.2 [ae _foriwrnelt 28 that half of all cancer — January 1993 _| Premium | 97 50.5 i 32.5 cases may be elated to TGERMA Premium 99. 54.2 5.8 40.0 al poainan: "Ok a a a ee pe gered SPAIN January 1993 43 (TB per cubic metre eee January 1995 [Premium [96.9] 0.13 | 60.4 6.8 | 328 |[2.8(MTBE)| 1.6 | (approx. 1 part per billion), it estimates that 2.8 people per million _ carcinogen) for a neurotoxin?"* The carcinogen is released into will be diagnosed with leukaemia. The World Health _ the air we breathe, while the neurotoxin it replaces comes out of Organisation comes up with a figure of four leukaemia cases per the exhaust as lead oxide or lead chloride which is baked hard and million, and the German Cancer Research Centre with nine pro- _ falls to the ground near the road.' jected cases.’ Professor Roger Perry says, "I find it really difficult to under- Professor Cesare Maltoni, of Italy's Ramazzini Foundation for stand how any government or any serious scientist could take the Oncology and Environmental Science, has directed studies show- _ issues of low levels of lead seriously, and decide to ignore issues ing that cancer is linked to substances from vehicle emissions. For such as benzene where levels are already high enough for con- 25 years his Foundation has tested on animals scores of substances _ cern." found in vehicle emissions. Professor Bill McCarthy, head of the Sydney Melanoma Unit, In 1977, Prof. Maltoni's Foundation showed that benzene wasa _ Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, says: "Benzene is a highly powerful carcinogen causing many types of cancers, particularly carcinogenic agent. It causes lung tumours, liver tumours, renal leukaemia. Many other aromatics were tested and they all proved —_ tumours, kidney tumours, leukaemia and skin tumours."” to be carcinogenic. Several other compounds contained in vehicle The worrying thing is that whether someone gets cancer from emissions were also found to be carcinogenic. exposure to chemicals is an individual thing; it all depends on tol- Professor Maltoni said, “There are risks with gasoline contain- _erance levels. People can take on a certain load of toxins, then all ing high aromatic hydrocarbons, risks with US gasoline containing _ of a sudden a bit more will make them really sick.’ For example, high paraffin content, and risks with oxygenate-additive gasolines. people afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may feel good Particular concern must be attached to gasolines with a high aro- _ one day, but the next day they can't get out of bed. matic hydrocarbon content. Benzene is one of the most powerful If you recall, in NEXUS vol.2#23 we published an article by Dr industrial carcinogens. Alkyl benzenes likewise entail cancer Hulda Regehr Clark, suggesting a link between the solvent ben- risk." zene and HIV/AIDS—so the implications are of great concern. carcinogen) for a neurotoxin?"® The carcinogen is released into the air we breathe, while the neurotoxin it replaces comes out of the exhaust as lead oxide or lead chloride which is baked hard and falls to the ground near the road.' Professor Roger Perry says, "I find it really difficult to under- stand how any government or any serious scientist could take the issues of low levels of lead seriously, and decide to ignore issues such as benzene where levels are already high enough for con- cer." Professor Bill McCarthy, head of the Sydney Melanoma Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, says: "Benzene is a highly carcinogenic agent. It causes lung tumours, liver tumours, renal tumours, kidney tumours, leukaernia and skin tumours."” The worrying thing is that whether someone gets cancer from exposure to chemicals is an individual thing; it all depends on tol- erance levels. People can take on a certain load of toxins, then all of a sudden a bit more will make them really sick.’ For example, people afflicted with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may feel good one day, but the next day they can't get out of bed. If you recall, in NEXUS vol.2#23 we published an article by Dr Hulda Regehr Clark, suggesting a link between the solvent ben- zene and HIV/AIDS—so the implications are of great concern. JUNE - JULY 1995 NEXUS ¢ 27