Another diesel scandal is gripping German carmakers, but this time it's not about emissions cheating.<br />Reports have emerged that experiments funded by all three of the country's major automakers exposed humans and monkeys to diesel exhaust fumes.<br />Ro Aram has the details.<br /> <br /> Local reports came out on Monday that a research group called EUGT financed by Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler, the maker of Mercedes-Benz, had measured the effects of inhaling nitrogen oxide gases on 25 healthy people at a German university hospital. <br />These tests were said to have taken place between 2012 and 2015.<br />The revelation came days after the New York Times reported that the research group had carried out similar tests on monkeys in the U.S. in 2014. <br /> They were apparently carried out to counter a 2012 decision by the World Health Organization to classify diesel exhaust fumes as a carcinogen. <br />However, the VW Beetle used in the tests was one of the millions programmed to reduce emissions when lab testing is detected, thus invalidating the data obtained. <br /> The new scandal has sent shockwaves through Germany and the country's environment minister described the experiments as "abominable".<br />A spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel also said they cannot be "justified ethically in any way."<br />Meanwhile, the carmakers seemed to be sidestepping responsibility and even going as far as denouncing the experiments. <br />Daimler said it was "appalled by the extent of the EUGT studies and their implementation." <br />VW, while apologizing for the tests, insisted it "explicitly distances itself clearly from all forms of animal abuse."<br />BMW denied it was involved in the studies.<br /> All three firms decided in late 2016 to dissolve the EUGT, which finally shut its doors last year. <br />Ro Aram, Arirang News. <br />
