By: Steve Dellar | 01-29-2018 | News
Photo credit: Typhoonski | Dreamstime.com

German Carmakers Tested Diesel Fumes Effect On Humans

Consternation in the German press today after local newspaper Stuttgarter Zeitung had posted a follow up over an EUGT experiment yesterday in which it claimed that the country’s carmakers (BMW, VW and Mercedes) had tested the toxic effect of exhaust fumes on some 19, get ready for it, humans.

FYI, the EUGT stands for Europäische Forschungsvereinigung für Umwelt und Gesundheit im Transportsektor (European Research Association for the Environment and Health in the Transport Sector) and is a lobby group used by the German carmakers to influence policymakers and consumers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The EUGT&#39;s approach contradicts our values and ethical principles. <br>We expressly distance ourselves from the study and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EUGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EUGT</a>.<br>We condemn the experiments in the strongest terms. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Daimler?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Daimler</a><br>👉🏼 <a href="https://t.co/JXvXVOaYNo">https://t.co/JXvXVOaYNo</a> <a href="https://t.co/DOLJ2MJmEV">pic.twitter.com/DOLJ2MJmEV</a></p>&mdash; Daimler AG (@Daimler) <a href="https://twitter.com/Daimler/status/957704067073101824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2018</a></blockquote>

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It was by their order that apparently some 19 people were invited to participate in a research project that had first been done on monkeys but was later expanded to humans. Researchers wanted to know the full effect of inhaling diesel exhaust fumes.

Politician Mr Stephan Weil, who sits on the board of Volkswagen, said that "this all needs to be investigated".

"Lobbying can be no excuse whatsoever for such testing."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">„Abgasskandal mit Daimler, BMW und VW:<br>Lobbyverein EUGT ließ Affen Dieselabgase einatmen“<a href="https://t.co/Kafgmipe3v">https://t.co/Kafgmipe3v</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dieselgate?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#dieselgate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bmw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bmw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/vw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#vw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/daimler?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#daimler</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eugt?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eugt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/affen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#affen</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/tierversuche?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tierversuche</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/schwarwel?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#schwarwel</a> <a href="https://t.co/6idmsnXnJ2">pic.twitter.com/6idmsnXnJ2</a></p>&mdash; Tommy Schwarwel (@TSchwarwel) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSchwarwel/status/957943067398561792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2018</a></blockquote>

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The group of people was exposed to various levels of diesel exhaust fumes over a month’s time in the city of Aachen, west of Germany, apparently.

Daimler, the group that manufactures Mercedes-Benz cars, realized immediately the damage this could have and released a corporate statement on Sunday "we are appalled by the extent of the EUGT studies and their implementation".

"We condemn the experiments in the strongest terms."

Source:

https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.skandaloese-lobbyarbeit-der-autokonzerne-affen-als-kronzeugen-fuer-den-diesel.24004fd0-66f1-4dab-802a-47a05442a8e3.html?reduced=true

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2 Comment/s
Anonymous No. 17056 2018-01-29 : 15:33

I thought the Germans did all sorts of these type tests during WWII? With a captured Russian submarine engine I believe? What didn't they take notes back then?? Hrmmmm?

Anonymous No. 17064 2018-01-29 : 16:30

17056 - Good one. I think VW did.

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