[A/S] Diesel Fumes

["duke748bp" <pbarlow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,
 I was surfing the net for facts on diesel fumes for work.
 Came across these.
 Brian in Canada
Diesel engines are used by an increasing number of automobiles, 
generators, light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles, and railroad 
locomotives. When diesel fuel burns in an engine, the resulting 
exhaust is made up of soot and gases which may contain thousands of 
different chemical substances. The soot consists of very small 
particles that can be inhaled and deposited in the lungs. Diesel 
exhaust contains 20-100 times more particles than gasoline exhaust. 
These particles carry cancer-causing substances known as polynuclear 
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Gases in diesel exhaust, such as 
nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene, sulfur 
dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide can 
also create health problems. Those most likely to be exposed to 
diesel exhaust include bridge, tunnel, and loading dock workers, auto 
mechanics, toll booth collectors, truck and forklift drivers, and 
people who work near areas where these vehicles are used, stored or 
maintained. Health Effects of Diesel ExhaustShort-Term (Acute) 
EffectsWorkers exposed to high concentrations of diesel exhaust have 
reported the following short-term health symptoms: ·irritation of
the 
eyes, nose, and throat ·lightheadedness ·feeling "high"
·heartburn 
·headache ·weakness, numbness, and tingling in extremities
·chest 
tightness ·wheezing ·vomiting Long-Term (Chronic)
EffectsAlthough 
there have been relatively few studies on the long-term health 
effects of diesel exhaust, the available studies indicate that diesel 
exhaust can be harmful to your health. According to the National 
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), human and 
animal studies show that diesel exhaust should be treated as a human 
carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). These findings are not 
surprising since several substances in diesel exhaust are known to 
cause cancer. It may take many years after the first exposure for 
diesel-related cancer to develop. Exposure to diesel exhaust in 
combination with other cancer causing substances may increase your 
risk of developing lung cancer even more. Other exposures that are 
known to cause lung cancer include cigarette smoke, welding fumes and 
asbestos. All of these exposures may interact with diesel exhaust to 
magnify your risk of lung cancer, and should be kept to a minimum. 
Some studies have suggested that workers exposed to diesel exhaust 
are more likely to have chronic respiratory symptoms (such as 
persistent cough and mucous), bronchitis, and reduced lung capacity 
than unexposed workers. People with preexisting diseases, such as 
emphysema, asthma, and heart disease, may be more susceptible to the 
effects of diesel exhaust. Studies in animals suggest that diesel 
exhaust may have other effects as well: ·Mice developed skin
cancer 
when extracts of diesel exhaust were applied to their skin.
·Diesel 
exhaust caused lung injury in exposed laboratory animals.
·Exposure 
to diesel exhaust reduced animals' resistance to bacterial infection. 
·Laboratory animals exposed to high concentrations of diesel gases 
showed a reduced level of activity and coordination. In addition, 
many of the individual components of diesel exhaust are known to be 
hazardous. For example, nitrogen oxides can damage the lungs, and 
carbon monoxide can aggravate heart disease and affect coordination. 
Isolate the WorkerAnother way of controlling diesel exhaust exposures 
is to isolate the worker from diesel fumes. ·Trucks should have
air-
conditioned cabs to isolate the driver from fumes (Windows should be 
rolled up so that fumes do not seep inside). ·Toll booth
collectors 
can be protected from fumes by working in air-conditioned booths. 
Safe Work PracticesFollowing the safe work practices below can also 
reduce exposure to diesel exhaust: ·Fuel grade 1K should be used 
instead of Diesel 1. Grade 1K is more expensive but burns more 
cleanly. ·All diesel equipment should have regular maintenance and 
frequent tune-ups. The exhaust system should be checked for leaking 
fumes. ·Vehicles should be fitted with emission control devices
(air 
cleaners), such as collectors, scrubbers, and ceramic particle traps. 
Air cleaners should be checked regularly and replaced when they get 
dirty. ·Prolonged idling of machinery should be avoided. A worker 
should not be in the vehicle when it is idling for a long period. 
·Any cracks in the vehicle should be fitted with weather stripping
to 
prevent fumes from seeping in. ·The floor of the vehicle should
not 
have any holes. Personal Protective EquipmentRespirators are usually 
the least effective method of controlling exposures, and they should 
be used only as a last resort. For diesel exhaust, a combination air-
purifying respirator that protects against acid gases, organic 
vapors, and particulates should be used. It is not enough for your 
employer to toss you a respirator and tell you to go to work. 
Respirators must be specific to the hazard, and fitted, cleaned, 
stored, inspected, and maintained in accordance with OSHA's 
respirator standard (see the AFSCME Fact Sheet on Respirators). In 
addition, you must be trained on how to use a respirator properly, 
and receive a medical exam to assure that you are physically fit to 
wear a respirator. Prevent skin contact with diesel exhaust by 
wearing protective clothing (gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirts, 
and face and eye protection) if necessary. OSHA StandardsThere is no 
OSHA standard for diesel exhaust. However, OSHA does have workplace 
exposure limits for individual components of diesel exhaust, such as 
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, benzene, carbon dioxide, nitrogen 
dioxide, acrolein, and formaldehyde. In addition, OSHA has a standard 
for "nuisance" dust that is applicable to the soot in diesel exhaust. 
The standard limits "respirable" dust exposures (particles that are 
small enough to lodge in the lung) to 5 milligrams per cubic meter of 
air (5 mg/m3) averaged over eight hours. Because diesel exhaust has 
been shown to cause cancer, NIOSH recommends that diesel exhaust 
exposures be reduced to the lowest feasible limits.