Diesel Exhaust No Escape

The Clean Air Task Force (CATF) conducted monitoring in Austin, Boston, New York City, and Columbus to assess diesel exhaust exposure during commutes. The study found that commuters in cars, buses, and trains are exposed to diesel particle levels significantly higher than ambient outdoor air, with the highest concentrations occurring in the presence of heavy truck traffic or when trains are pulled by locomotives. The report highlights that while commuting accounts for only about 6% of a person's day, it may contribute over half of their daily exposure to ultrafine particles. To mitigate these risks, the report recommends retrofitting existing diesel engines with diesel particulate filters (DPFs), which can reduce particle emissions by up to 90%.

• Commuters experience a disproportionate amount of their daily exposure to ultrafine particles during their travel time, with some estimates suggesting over half of daily exposure occurs during the approximately 6% of the day spent commuting.
• Monitoring in Austin, Boston, New York City, and Columbus showed that diesel particle levels inside commuter cars, buses, and trains were four to eight times higher than the ambient outdoor air in those cities.
• In-cabin exposure for car commuters is strongly linked to the presence of diesel trucks; for example, in Austin, ultrafine particle levels were consistently higher on Interstate 35 (a truck route) than on the MOPAC expressway, which prohibits heavy trucks.
• Commuter train exposure varies significantly based on whether the locomotive is pushing or pulling the coaches; pulled trains showed ultrafine particle levels up to 17 times greater than outdoor air because the exhaust plume invades the coaches.
• Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are highly effective at reducing emissions, with the ability to reduce tailpipe particle emissions by up to 90%, virtually eliminating exposure for passengers in retrofitted buses and for drivers in cars following retrofitted trucks.
• Exposure to diesel fine particles is linked to severe health outcomes, including lung cancer, cardiovascular death, stroke, and reduced lung function growth in children living near freeways.
• The report recommends that the U.S. EPA adopt an engine rebuild rule requiring long-haul trucks to upgrade emission controls whenever engines are rebuilt, as these vehicles contribute the majority of on-road diesel pollution.

APA

Schneider, C. G., Hill, L. B., & Gooch, J. (2007). Diesel Exhaust No Escape. Clean Air Task Force. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093815/CATF_Pub_No_Escape_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf

Chicago

Schneider, Conrad G., L. Bruce Hill, and James Gooch. Diesel Exhaust No Escape. Clean Air Task Force, 2007. https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093815/CATF_Pub_No_Escape_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Schneider |first1=Conrad G. |last2=Hill |first2=L. Bruce |last3=Gooch |first3=James |title=Diesel Exhaust No Escape |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=February 2007 |url=https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093815/CATF_Pub_No_Escape_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{schneider2007diesel, author = {Schneider, Conrad G. and Hill, L. Bruce and Gooch, James}, title = {{Diesel Exhaust No Escape}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2007}, month = feb, url = {https://cdn.catf.us/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/21093815/CATF_Pub_No_Escape_Diesel_Exhaust.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }