Diesel Fuel Health Risk

Many individuals and businesses benefit from the use of diesel fuel. Most delivery trucks, school buses, farm equipment and generators are powered by diesel fuel. Although it is commonly used throughout the world, the exhaust from diesel engines contains substances that pose serious health risks.

Diesel Exhaust

• When an engine burns diesel fuel, it produces diesel exhaust.

Gases and Fine Particles

• Diesel fuel is a mixture of many gases and fine particles (commonly known as soot) that consist of 40 toxic air pollutants.

Cancer-Causing Substances

• Some suspected carcinogenic substances include arsenic, formaldehyde, nickel and benzene.

Urban Smog

• Diesel engines contributes to haze which can hinder one's ability to see long distances.

  Another harmful contaminant is nitrogen oxide which is an element of urban smog.

Health Effects

• According to the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), long-term exposure to diesel exhaust particle poses the highest cancer risk of any toxic air contaminant. Other immediate health effects may include irritation in the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Headaches, coughs, lightheadedness, inflammation in the lungs and nausea can also come into play due to diesel exhaust exposure.