Diesel gases masculinize fetal rodents
By Janet Raloff
Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency issued final rules aimed at cleaning up the soot and gases emitted by heavy-duty diesel trucks and buses. That should significantly reduce respiratory harm from diesel fumes. It might also decrease their potential for perturbing normal sexual development, a previously unanticipated risk suggested by results of a new study in rats.
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Japanese researchers find that when pregnant rats inhale diesel emissions—even after all soot particles have been filtered out—their male and female young develop signs of inappropriate masculinization.