Petrol is making us sick

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Petrol is the backbone of our economies, but unfortunately, this comes with significant health costs. The reach of petrol and the complex mixture of chemicals it contains infiltrate our daily lives in ways most of us don’t realize. From the air we breathe to the products we use, petrol is nearly everywhere and affects our health.

Petrol’s presence in our daily lives

Petrol is the foundational building block for countless products:

1. Petrol stations: This is the most obvious interaction. The fumes you breathe in at the petrol station contain a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including the well-known Benzene. Even brief exposure can irritate your eyes and throat, and repeated exposure may lead to serious health issues.
2. Driving and commuting: Every journey in a petrol-powered car releases a mix of gases and fine particulate matter. This pollution doesn’t stay on the highway; it permeates our urban air, impacting everyone from pedestrians to children in nearby schools.
3. The products we use (plastics, etc.): This is where petrol’s influence becomes truly dangerous. Most plastics, from food containers to phone cases, furniture, and clothing made from synthetic fibers (like polyester and nylon), come from petrochemicals produced by refining crude oil. While these finished products are normally stable, their manufacturing releases many pollutants, and breaking down plastics into microplastics creates new health risks, as these tiny particles are found in everything from our food to our blood.
4. Household goods and solvents: Many paints, adhesives, cleaning products, and even some cosmetics contain petroleum-derived solvents and chemicals that can release VOCs into your home, affecting indoor air quality.
5. Industrial emissions: Refineries and petrochemical plants, sometimes located near residential areas (often without the knowledge of nearby residents), continuously release a wide array of toxic fumes into the surrounding air, impacting the health of local communities.

The heavy health toll

The health impacts of petrol exposure range from immediate irritations to severe, life-threatening conditions.

1. Cancer, especially leukemia: This is the most devastating impact. Benzene, a ubiquitous component of petrol, is a known human carcinogen. Long-term or high-level exposure drives blood cancers, particularly Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). Studies have shown that living near a gas station increases the rate of childhood leukemia (see “Residential proximity to petrol stations and risk of childhood leukemia”, 2023, by Malavolti et al.).
2. Respiratory diseases: The particulate matter (PM_2.5) and gases like nitrogen oxides (NO_x) released from burning petrol are potent lung irritants:
   • trigger and worsen asthma attacks.
   • cause chronic bronchitis and emphysema (COPD).
   • decrease lung function and heighten the rate of respiratory infections.
   • cause premature death from respiratory illnesses.
3. Cardiovascular disease: Fine particulate matter from vehicle exhaust penetrates deep into the lungs and enters the bloodstream. It causes inflammation, artery hardening, heart attacks, and strokes.
4. Neurological damage: Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as toluene and xylenes can cause a range of neurological issues, from immediate symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and confusion to long-term problems like memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and even peripheral nerve damage with prolonged exposure.
5. Developmental and reproductive harm: Some petrol-derived compounds act as endocrine disruptors that affect reproductive health and fetal development. Exposure during pregnancy is linked to adverse birth outcomes.

The widespread presence of petrol in our daily lives means its negative health effects are extensive and deeply ingrained. Dr. Hulda Clark identified all those chemicals as highly toxic a long time ago. Maybe moving to electricity-based economies, which do not constantly intoxicate us and put cancer in our bodies, wouldn’t be that bad after all.