Occupational Exposure to Diesel Exhaust

The document details the health risks associated with occupational exposure to diesel exhaust, specifically particulate matter, and advocates for the use of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) to retrofit older engines.

• Occupational exposure to diesel exhaust is linked to a wide range of severe health issues, including cardiovascular disease, various cancers, and respiratory illnesses. A 2007 Harvard study of 54,000 trucking industry workers found heart disease risks were 49% higher for drivers, 34% higher for shop workers, and 32% higher for dock workers compared to the general U.S. population.
• Diesel exhaust is identified as a probable, likely, or potential carcinogen. Research on 55,000 railroad workers over 38 years showed a 40% increased risk of lung cancer across 30 job categories, while a 2001 study indicated a 50% excess risk of colon cancer in men exposed to diesel emissions.
• Current EPA regulations for new engines are insufficient to protect workers in the short term because the 11 million existing diesel engines in the U.S. will continue to pollute for decades. The EPA estimates that the full benefits of the 2007 highway and 2010 nonroad diesel rules will not be realized until 2030.
• Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) are a proven technology capable of reducing particles by 85% or more and can be retrofitted onto many highway diesels from 1995 and newer. For offroad equipment, retrofit options include Level 3 devices (85% reduction), Level 2 devices (50% reduction), and Level 1 diesel oxidation catalysts (25% removal).

APA

Clean Air Task Force (2008). Occupational Exposure to Diesel Exhaust. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093801/CATF_FactSheet_Occupational_Exposure_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf

Chicago

Clean Air Task Force. Occupational Exposure to Diesel Exhaust. 2008. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093801/CATF_FactSheet_Occupational_Exposure_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Clean Air Task Force |title=Occupational Exposure to Diesel Exhaust |date=18 March 2008 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093801/CATF_FactSheet_Occupational_Exposure_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cleanairtaskforce2008occupational, author = {{Clean Air Task Force}}, title = {{Occupational Exposure to Diesel Exhaust}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2008}, month = mar, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093801/CATF_FactSheet_Occupational_Exposure_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }