Diesel Exhaust

Introduction

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Diesel exhaust is a common contaminant of air in urban and rural environments. Many people find the sight and smell of diesel exhaust to be objectionable and several agencies believe that it causes cancer. It is generated by many sources including buses, semi-trucks, electricity generators, and earth moving and farming equipment. The chemical compounds that diesel exhaust is composed of depend on the fuel and engine used, the presence of emissions control equipment, and how the engine is maintained and operated. The following sections describe the characteristics of diesel exhaust, how it is transported and transformed in the environment, the routes by which humans may be exposed to diesel exhaust, means for measuring the concentration of diesel exhaust and its constituents in the environment, and ways to prevent or control diesel exhaust generation and human exposure.