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Gas Fumes May Pump Up Road Rage

Study finds link to increased aggression in rats

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2009 5:24 AM CST

(Newser) – If filling the gas tank fills you with rage, it might be the fumes you're breathing, not the prices you're paying. A new study shows rats exposed to gasoline fumes became more aggressive, with repeated exposure altering their brain structures—a finding that could also apply to humans and road rage, Wired reports.

“Heightened aggression may be yet another risk for the human population chronically exposed to urban air polluted by automobile smoke,” said the scientist who led the study. “Millions of people every day are exposed to gasoline fumes while refueling their cars.”

Pumping gas may fuel road rage.
Pumping gas may fuel road rage.   (Shutter Stock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
tomodachi
Nov 25, 2009 11:49 AM CST
Just another reason to be using electricity to fuel our cars... so the scientists can study the effects of it on rats and tell us how bad it is for us.
Fondue
Nov 25, 2009 7:36 AM CST
So would odorless FAKES.
davjc09
Nov 25, 2009 7:22 AM CST
Plus, (I'm not sure if this is what you're getting at Fondue) it's most likely not the odor response that's causing the increased aggression. It's the actual chemicals themselves causing free radicals in the brain.

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