A cause for concern arises when we know the facts recently revealed by the anti smoker advocates and research in the news for a number of years, we will all die prematurely if the Government does not take immediate action. I am asking all who read this to write letters to Canadian Federal and Provincial Health ministries to demand double blind studies and environmental assessments be commissioned to investigate the Epidemiological effects of current Diesel fuel, leaded gas and kerosene exhaust effects on the general population. It can be nothing less than gross hypocrisy and reckless disregard, to do less, unless as research would indicate current government agencies are pandering to the needs of market share competitions in nicotine delivery industries as opposed to the needs of the public they represent. Plans to expand public transit and airport capacities require immediate investigation in respect to possibly catastrophic public health issues. With the research recently revealed by Government and health care advocates as to the levels and resulting affects of health in the exposure of outdoor cigarette smoke it becomes quite evident the massively higher danger exists in exposure to fuel exhaust. The target organs affected according to the Nosh guidelines are eyes, Heart, Lungs the brain and central nervous system. The scientific re-provable evidence shows Diesel and kerosene fuels cause lung cancer. Avgas has never had the reductions of lead as we saw with auto fuels and the evidence is clear the dangers of leaded fuel constitute unacceptable risk of human mortality. The known safe level of Benzene is one part per million yet federal regulations allow one part per hundred in auto fuel this is a questionable stance considering the risks involved at self serve gas bars. In perspective observations, the dangerous exposure to the general population exceeds that of primary smoking counts by more than five times and would be approximately equal to the amount of those exposed ever to second hand smoke.
Studies should include commuters who would be exposed to this cumulative toxin 10 or more times per week exceeding 15 minutes of exposure described as waiting on bus and train platforms. Those employed directly or working more than 40 hours per week in immediate vicinity to the platforms for incidence of Cancer and long term respiratory ailments. The majority 90% of the Ontario population lives within 120 KM of the American boarder and by coincidence the routes of Go Train and busses are concentrated within this tract. The major incidence of Lung Cancer would also be concentrated in a population who lives and works in this area. The unsafe levels of lifetime ingestion of Diesel fuel far exceed the recommendations to protect public health. With Avgas lead dangers the Toronto Island airport and close proximity to the children’s Centreville theme park, Exhibition Park and Ontario place all frequented by large groups of children daily, should be a matter of urgent concern. The Buttonville airport and it’s proximity to high density upper income housing the financial liability exposures are a matter of equal concern.
Government must minimize further future risk through immediate action, particularly with the onus on expenditures to expand these transportation methods. Current plans will lead to predictable death and increased incidence of lung Cancers and respiratory ailments, which could exceed the preventable deaths now suspiciously attributed primarily to cigarette smoking. It is imperative; the public sector purchase of diesel-powered vehicles should cease immediately until the long-term effects of the exposure to millions of unsuspecting commuters are more clearly understood. The City of Toronto trucking garbage to the States is a major concern the result of hundreds of Diesel vehicles operating seven days a week is an obvious potential harm. Estimates show these vehicles alone are producing 5000 full grams of Dioxins annually; this is much more than the incinerator they replaced. Smog days are on the rise despite the government declaration of actions to reduce emissions have been successful. Current expansion of Aircraft use should also be examined the dangers of Kerosene are well known and may be seen as toxic as those in Diesel Fuel exhaust. The monitoring of personal vehicle emissions is not being taken seriously when dealing with a much deadlier hazard. The Bay Street bus terminal in Toronto at any given time has a minimum of six busses sitting idling continuously twenty four hours a day seven days a week despite a city bylaw which specifically prohibits a vehicle idling for more than 3 minutes. Drivers in their training are taught to leave the vehicles running due to a myth, the practice will extend engine life. Modern vehicles do not have such requirements and should be shut down at all times when not in use.
Diesel Exhaust is a class 1 carcinogen and a known workplace safety hazard. The Government has known this since 1960 yet failed to properly notify and protect the general public from the potential hazard. Successive Governments knowingly and willingly participated in profiting through sales of transportation tickets and taxation knowingly profited from the exposure of its customers and the general public to this reckless and deadly health risk. The Propaganda campaign currently being employed against cigarette smoke is a planned deception aimed at deflecting blame away from a toxin which is known to cause lung cancer. This is borne out in real science not theoretic studies. The exposure and RR values if calculated will prove irrefutably the fact; exposure to Diesel fuel exhaust would far surpass dangers now expressed as the only other possible option or explanation for the high incidence of Lung Cancer. The drastic reduction of smoking in North America in relation to the increased incidence of new Cancers have never been explained The explanation can be seen clearly in the increased use of Diesel powered vehicles and the coincidental increases in new Lung cancer patients.
For these reasons I am asking everyone to write legislators and Health ministries and have this investigated as their is an unwillingness to proceed by Cancer foundations and public Health groups the Government has a duty to protect the population and finance these studies.
It may well be proven with physical science and with no estimates of epidemiology or consensus groups required.
"A Public transit passenger ticket is likely the only product which used as directed Kills its users"
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