Diesel particles pose heart risks

Tiny chemical particles emitted by diesel exhaust fumes could raise the risk of heart attacks, research has shown. University scientists have found that ultrafine particles produced when diesel burns are harmful to blood vessels. They can increase the chances of blood clots forming in arteries, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Diesel exhaust fumes. The research measured the impact of diesel exhaust fumes on healthy volunteers at levels that would be found in heavily polluted cities. Scientists studied people's reactions to the gases found in diesel fumes, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. They then compared those with reactions caused by the ultrafine chemical particles from exhausts.