Pollution 'could kill off human race'.

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Friday, 12th May 2006

Thu 11 May 2006

Pollution 'could kill off human race' IAN JOHNSTON SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT

 

EXCERPTS:

http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=703372006

POLLUTION is far more damaging to humans than originally thought and is

causing genetic mutations which could eventually wipe us from the face of the

planet, according to a leading scientist.

 

Dr Laurence Loewe, of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at Edinburgh

University, said researchers had under-estimated the threat from small but

damaging mutations of DNA caused by pollutants such as exhaust fumes and

chemicals.

 

 

Although these might not immediately cause disease, as they build up over

generations they can reach the point within a population where more and more

people become infertile and, ultimately, the group dies out.

 

Most experts had believed small mutations were irrelevant as they did not

cause disease. But, according to a mathematical model of the way they affect

populations, there is a real danger from the accumulation of such defects, and

this could already be affecting some endangered species.

 

This means pollution is gradually degrading the evolutionary fitness of humans

and other animals, which could in " millions of years " lead to the end of

humanity " given that all the other doomsday scenarios don't happen first " , he

said.

 

Dr Loewe said the results of his study produced the " strong conclusion " that

action should be taken to limit the amount of pollution getting into the

environment.

 

" We should reduce the man-made increase of spontaneous mutation rates that

frequently comes from environmental pollution by various chemicals, " he said.

" If you start to consider how we are living in the West today, there is an

incredibly large number of mutagenic things we do because they are part of

civilisation.

 

Last year, a study funded by the United States government found that air

pollution from vehicle exhausts and power plants appeared to be able to cause

genetic changes that have been linked to cancer in foetuses.

 

A Canadian study in 2004 found that mice exposed to similar air pollutants saw

an increase in the rate of genetic mutation.

 

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scitech.cfm?id=703372006

 

Last updated: 10-May-06 00:28 BST

 

 

 

 

 

 

" Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest

of life by the power of the spirit. " - Aurobindo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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