IS DIESEL EXHAUST DEADLY?

The health of many truck and bus drivers may be in jeopardy if the allegations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning diesel smoke and cancer are correct. This article looks at the mounting controversy and its consequences for the motor-carrier industry. While there is no conclusive proof that motor-carrier employees have an unusually high risk of cancer, an EPA administrator has estimated that diesel exhaust causes up to 800 cases per year. EPA funded a study by the National Research Council which indicated that there was no conclusive evidence that there were adverse health effects on humans. Despite this, EPA has imposed increasingly stringent particulate standards in 1988, 1991, and 1994. Current standards will reduce soot emmissions by heavy trucks and buses by 46% to cut alleged cancer risk to city dwellers. Due to control also is diesel fuel quality which could reduce sulfur content substantially to decrease soot. Ultimately particulate traps will be required. American Trucking Associations' position is that there is just inconclusive proof. Now National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health is studying teamster cancer death, adjusted for personal smoking habits. it is claimed that there can be a resolution to the controversy in two years.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: https://www.library.northwestern.edu/find-borrow-request/requests-interlibrary-loan/lending-institutions.html
• Publication Date: 1985-8

Media Info

• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: p. 63-67
• Serial:
  • Commercial Carrier Journal
  • Volume: 142
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Randall Publishing Company, Incorporated
  • ISSN: 1099-4173

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Bus drivers; Diesel engine exhaust gases; Diesel engines; Diesel fuels; Exhaust gases; Health; Particulates; Regulations; Risk analysis; Truck drivers
• Identifier Terms: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Old TRIS Terms: Government regulations
• Subject Areas: Law; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451087
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM