Diesel fumes and your heart: what a small study found

NCT ID NCT01548625

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested how breathing different levels of diesel exhaust affects the heart and blood vessels in 6 healthy adults aged 50-75. Each person breathed in diesel fumes at three different strengths for 2 hours, with breaks in between. Researchers used ultrasound to check blood vessel function. The goal was to understand how air pollution might raise heart risks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: diesel exhaust
What this could lead to: If successful, this could help explain how air pollution harms the heart and guide future health recommendations.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early study with only 6 healthy people. Results may not apply to others, and it does not test any treatment.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEALTHY

Contacts and locations

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Locations

EPA Human Studies Facility

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States

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