The Toxicity of Diesel Exhaust: Implications for Primary Care

Article Figures & Data

Table 1.

Potential sources of clinically significant exposure to diesel exhaust

Roads and highways

Truck stops or distribution points

Construction sites

Railway depots or proximity to trains

City streets near bus and truck routes

Gas stations

Vehicle repair and maintenance shops

Tunnels

Toll stations

Bridges

Parking structures, garages, or lots

Fire stations

Airports

Bus stations

Boat harbors and docks

Mines

Table 2.

Composition, breakdown, and carcinogenicity of diesel exhaust

Gas-Phase Emission Components	Atmospheric Reaction Products	Biological Impact
Carbon dioxide	–	Global warming
Carbon monoxide	–	Asphyxiation
Nitrogen oxides	Nitric acid, ozone	Respiratory tract irritants, acid rain
Sulfur dioxide	Sulfuric acid	Respiratory tract irritant, acid rain
Hydrocarbons
Alkanes	Aldehydes, alkyl nitrates, ketones	Respiratory tract irritants
Alkenes	Aldehydes, ketones	Respiratory tract irritants, mutagenic and carcinogenic
Aldehydes
Formaldehyde	Carbon monoxide, hydroperoxyl radicals	Carcinogenic
Higher aldehydes (eg, acetaldehyde, acrolein)	Peroxyacyl nitrates	Respiratory tract and eye irritants, plant damage
Monocyclic aromatic compounds (eg, toluene)	Hydroxylated-nitro derivatives	Carcinogenic
Benzene	Nitro-PAH	Mutagenic and carcinogenic
Particle-phase emission components
Elemental carbon	–	Nuclei adsorb organic compounds
Inorganic sulfate and nitrate	–	Respiratory tract irritant
Hydrocarbons (C14-C35)	Aldehydes, ketones, and alkyl nitrates	Unknown
PAH	Nitro-PAH and nitro-PAH lactones	Mutagenic and carcinogenic