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Recent research has begun to show a link between vehicle emissions and human health in proximity to highways and busy roads. The two lines of evidence come from (a) careful epidemiology combined with spatial mapping, revealing a direct link between respiratory disease, proximity to roadways, and exposure time; and (b) emerging evidence showing that ultrafine particles common in diesel exhaust are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier, with implications for development of cancers.
In addition, concern is rising over the human health impacts associated with hazardous air pollutants from local incineration and from industry, especially high production volume chemicals. Among the most visible endpoints of concern is endocrine disruption, particularly associated with burdens of chlorinated organics in the human body. Other issues, such as mercury pollution from power plants, are also surfacing.
In January 2005, a series of articles in the Houston Chronicle called attention to very high concentrations of air toxics in Houston Ship Channel neighborhoods such as Milby Park. This resulted in heightened public awareness of the air toxics issue and subsequent demands that TERC address the issue more seriously in addition to funding ozone research. TERC has responded to this demand by drafting an Air Toxics Research Agenda, which is attached to this proposal as Appendix IV.
In the coming years, more resources may have to be spent on quantifying human health impacts of air toxics. TERC will concentrate on funding human exposure research, in coordination with medical institutions that study health effects. TERC will coordinate its efforts with those of the medical community, resulting in greater efficiency in meeting the needs of the general population.
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| Page Updated/Reviewed: 02/15/2007 11:18 AM |
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© 2005 - 2008 Texas Environmental Research Consortium
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