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Effects of Diesel Exhaust

Diesel fuel is used to run most of the trucking industry, buses, tractors, trains and other large vehicular equipment. It also powers generators in emergencies and has historically been cheaper than refined gasoline. Like most combustion engines that use fuel, diesel engines generate thick clouds of dangerous smoke in the form of exhaust. Diesel exhaust poses a risk to health and is a common form of air pollution.

  1. Workplace Exposure

    • Diesel exhaust poses a serious risk for workers in areas that run trucks or heavy equipment. As diesel usage spreads, more workers become victims of diesel exhaust air pollution. Breathing in the fumes can induce headaches and nausea, while more serious problems like respiratory disease and cancer can occur. Workers that are at risk of these problems include miners, railroad workers, shipping and dock workers, longshoremen, garage employees and truck and bus maintenance workers.

    Testing Expose in Animals

    • Based on information provided by the Health Effects Institute and the Diesel Working Group, experiments on rats show that diesel exhaust increases the chances of benign and malignant tumors in the lungs. No evidence shows that diesel exhaust can cause cancer elsewhere in the body. However, studies done to hamsters did not show tumors after long-time exposure.

    Test Results of Exposure in Animals

    • After conducting its experiments, the Diesel Working Group does not recommend drawing the conclusion that diesel exhaust causes lung cancer. The reason for this is while rats did develop tumors, there is a species-specific factor that may cause discrepancies. Tumors in rats are not accurate enough to support tumors in humans. The evidence compiled for rat testing only counts as circumstantial and yields no definitive proof.

    California

    • In 1998, California identified diesel exhaust as a particulate matter that could cause cancer, premature death, respiratory illness and other health risks. Particulate matter (PM) is a toxic air contaminant. Those most vulnerable to diesel exhaust are premature babies and children with lungs still developing and elderly people with lung problems. In 2005, approximately 3,500 deaths as well as thousands of hospitalized patients, asthma attacks and sicknesses were the result of diesel exhaust particulate matter.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Over the last 30 years, improvements and new technology have constantly improved the efficiency of diesel engines, resulting in cleaner and less diesel exhaust. Even with these improvements, diesel exhaust remains one of the most widespread forms of air pollution. In California, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has been working on its Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, which will cut the number of particle emissions from diesel equipment. This plan, scheduled for 2010, should cut particle emissions by 75 percent compared to the year 2000.

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