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Background Information |
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The hazards of diesel exhaust are as follows: 1. The components of diesel exhaust (DE) emissions are a public concern for the following reasons:
· Emissions from diesel engines include over 40 substances that are listed by the EPA as hazardous air pollutants.
· Components of DE contain potential cancer causing substances such as arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, nickel, and PAHs.
· The diesel particulate matter (DPM) is very small (90% are less than 1um by mass), making DPM easy to respire into the deep lung.
· DPM has hundreds of chemicals adsorbed to their surfaces, including many known or suspected carcinogens.
· There are many irritants and toxic chemicals in the gaseous phase of DE.
· Oxides of nitrogen, component of urban smog, are in the gaseous phase of DE.
· There is likelihood that people in both ambient and occupational settings can be exposed to DE.
· DE has the potential to cause adverse health effects including cancer, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.
· Studies show workers exposed to higher levels of DE are more likely to develop lung cancer.
· The EPA has proposed classifying DE as a probable human carcinogen.
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