The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a wing of the WHO, has said that diesel engine exhaust can certainly cause cancer, especially lung cancer in humans.
Noting that the IARC-WHO statement sends out a strong signal for urgent and stringent action, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in India, "dieselization" has taken off at a maniacal pace with state subsidies and sought steps to "stop state-sponsored homicide"
"Despite recession, diesel cars have clocked 34 per cent growth last year and are close to 60 per cent of new car sales. How can the government justify the hidden subsidies to the rich and to a killer fuel?," it said.
Anumita Roychowdhury, head of CSE's air pollution control unit, said the finding comes at a time when India has failed to adopt a clean diesel road map, prevent use of under-taxed and under-priced toxic diesel in cars, and reduce its overall consumption in all sectors.
