Chemicals known to be found in diesel exhaust

Diesel exhaust contains 41 chemicals or more that the State of California has identified as toxic air contaminants. The health risks of air toxins vary from pollutant to pollutant, but are all serious. This is only a partial listing of the chemicals and compounds that may be found in the emissions from any diesel engine. Most are known to be toxic and cause cancer. This list was compiled from several sources and is believed to be accurate.

Health Impact of Diesel Particulate Matter:

Most particulate matter emitted by diesel engines is small enough to evade the body's defenses and lodge deep in the lungs. Particulate matter air pollution is associated with increases in mortality, especially in people older than 65 years old who have existing cardiopulmonary diseases and in infants and children with developing lungs. It is also associated with health problems including aggravation of asthma, especially in children, and other chronic lung diseases, impacts on lung function, and increased susceptibility to infectious illnesses. Your severity of exposure will vary based on where you live, commute and work. Here are some of the risks of exposure:

Environmental Impact of Diesel Emissions:

Diesel engines and vehicles emit pollutants like particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (Sox), toxic compounds, such as formaldehyde, and ozone precursors, such as NOx and VOCs. Ground level ozone pollution causes crop and forestry losses. Particulate matter causes damage to materials and soils, commonly used building materials and culturally important items such as statues and works of art. NOx, Sox and particulate matter contribute to visibility impairment. NOx emissions contribute to the acidification, nitrification and eutrophication of water bodies. To put it into simple terms, diesel emissions help make everything dirty.

Contributes to smog Contributes to ground-level ozone Contributes to water and soil pollution Contributes to global warming	Reduces visibility Absorbs sunlight causing global climate changes May affect local climate Damages buildings, statues and artwork

Take action to avoid exposure whenever and wherever possible.

Be pro active by keeping the air you breathe in the workplace clean and reasonably free from exhaust fumes. Know and understand the risks and dangers these fumes present and what you can do to reduce or eliminate them and encourage others to do the same. Protecting your lungs is no less important than your eyes with safety glasses and your skin from chemicals with gloves.

• You have the right to work in a safe, healthy environment. It's the law!
  Check your local, state and federal regulations and guidelines for health and safety.
  
  
• Work environments should have adequate ventilation. Operating vehicles indoors requires the use
  of exhaust entrapment systems like exhaust hoses connected to vehicle tail pipes. The use of vents
  or open doors alone is not enough but should be used in conjunction with exhaust hoses and hoods.
  
  
• Ask your employer for information on the hazards associated with diesel fumes, read it, make sure you
  understand it and if not, seek clarification.
  
  
• Use all available ventilation devices and controls available to you, know how to use them and be able to
  detect any inoperative equipment.
  
  
• Report any broken or ineffective equipment to your employer such as poor extraction fans, leaking or
  poor fitting hoses.
  
  
• Understand and recognize the symptoms of over exposure: light-headedness or dizziness, vomiting,
  coughing, sore throat, burning eyes. Know what to do: move the individual to fresh air and
  seek medical attention is symptoms are severe.
  
  
• Take actions to reduce emissions from the start. Turn off engines when not in use. Discourage idling
  and unnecessary operation of vehicles and machinery especially indoors.
  
  
• Use emissions reducing systems like catalysts, particulate traps and low sulfur fuels and lubricants.
  Maintain vehicles and equipment and keep them running properly.
  
  
• Checking for the presence of soot on the walls or on other surfaces in your workplace is a useful
  indicator that diesel fumes are not being adequately controlled.

Resources and information

The information contained in this article came from many sources. Some of it came from experience, current training that reflects current knowledge and from researching the subject on the Internet. Below is a list of links to the best web pages and web sites related to diesel exhaust emissions and health. We encourage you to visit and explore the information within them. It could help you live a longer, healthier life.

• Occupational Safety & Health Administration   http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/diesel exhaust/index.html
• California Air Resources Board   http://www.ford.com/research/diesel/diesel-health .htm
• Clean Air Task Force   http://www/projects/diesel/noescape/
• U.S. Environmental Agency  http://www.epa.gov/oms/
• Natural Resources Defense Council   http://www.nrdc.org/air/transportation/ebd/ebdinx.asp
• DieselNet  http://www.dieselnet.com/
• eJournal USA   http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itgic/0605/ijge/holmstead.htm
• EPA - "Particulate Matter"   http://www.epa.gov/pmresearch/topics.html
• EPA  http://es.epa.gov/ncer/science/pm/
• Green Diesel Technology   http://www.greendieseltechnology.com/
• The Health Effects Institute   http://pubs.healtheffects.org/
• EPA - "Toxics"   http://www.epa.gov/otaq/toxics.htm