Evaluation of the potential health effects of occupational exposure to diesel exhaust in underground coal mines.

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  Studies of the effects of exposure to diesel exhaust and solvent extracts of diesel exhaust on bacterial/cell cultures, animals, and humans were reviewed in relation to the potential for adverse health effects of exposures in underground coal mines. The history of the development and commercial use of diesel engines was described. The composition of diesel exhaust was delineated and areas for additional studies of possible health effects were identified. Studies have demonstrated that some of the components of diesel exhaust cause mutations in microorganisms and cancer in animals. Health effects ranging from eye irritation to respiratory disease in humans have been reported. The composition of the exhaust varies due to the design of the engine, fuel composition, power output, fuel to air ratio, duty cycles, emission controls, and engine maintenance. As yet no causal association between exposure to whole diesel exhaust and the occurrence of cancer in humans has been proven. According to the authors, NIOSH cannot definitively affirm or condemn the the use of diesel equipment in underground mining operations at this time. Exposures should be kept below the Mine Safety and Health Administration standards, or NIOSH recommended exposure limits. To help meet this standard, adequate ventilation of mines is essential as is the proper maintenance of diesel equipment.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Health Personnel Occupational Health Safety Staff Development
• Keywords:
  Automotive-exhausts Carcinogenesis Coal-miners Environmental-pollution Epidemiology Laboratory-animals Mine-workers Mining-industry Risk-analysis Underground-miners
• Document Type:
  Text
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSDTT - Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-143
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:00181257
• Citation:
  NIOSH 1986 Mar; :1-143
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1986
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Division of Standards Development and Technology Transfer, NIOSH, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, 143 pages, 177 references
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:dde9a5ddfbe336cfb6e714eab271565337f162b484fb3e2b200589805ff7f9e56965b2ffce18e510aabf362710101a889ff29c01da866cdb23ad6e04886afa0a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/180079/cdc_180079_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.13 MB ]