Diesel fuel is widely used throughout our society. It powers trucks that deliver products to ourcommunities, buses that carry us to school and work, agricultural equipment that plants and harvestsour food, and backup generators that can provide electricity during emergencies. It is also used formany other applications. Diesel engines have historically been more versatile and cheaper to runthan gasoline engines or other sources of power. Unfortunately, the exhaust from these enginescontains substances that can pose a risk to human health.In 1998, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health HazardAssessment (OEHHA) completed a comprehensive health assessment of diesel exhaust. Thisassessment formed the basis for a decision by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to formallyidentify particles in diesel exhaust as a toxic air contaminant that may pose a threat to human health.The American Lung Association of California (ALAC) and its 15 local associations work to preventlung disease and promote lung health. Since 1904, theAmerican Lung Association has been fighting lungdisease through education, community service, advocacyand research.This fact sheet by OEHHA and ALAC providesinformation on health hazards associated with dieselexhaust.
Download PDF : diesel4-02