The fuel inhalation causes damage to the genome

2012/10/17 Galarraga Aiestaran, Ana - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena
• Medikuntza
• Biologia

In fact, they have done the experiment with the intention of seeing if that relationship exists. In fact, many of the volunteers later reported health problems, especially in the respiratory system, and in some cases demonstrated damage to the genome. But it was difficult to show that the origin of these damages was fuel, since they did not have exact exposure data.

In order to overcome this vacuum, two types of rats have been subjected to an inhalation chamber to a mixture similar to the fuel carried by the Prestige. The results have been clear: the compounds emitted by the fuel cause damage to the DNA and the DNA repair mechanism, especially from the fifteenth day. However, one of the types of rats has suffered more damage than the other.

The study, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, considers that the conclusions are valid for people exposed to fuel, not only for those who clean the discharges, but also for those who work in oil fields, refineries, gas stations, etc.