Comparison of personal diesel and biodiesel exhaust exposures in an underground mine |
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| Authors: | Reported By Eric A. Lutz Rustin J. Reed Vivien S.T. Lee Jefferey L. Burgess |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Mining Safety and Health Program, Environmental and Occupational Health, Division of Community, Environment, and Policy, Mel &2. Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona |
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| Abstract: | This study aimed to compare personal exposures to diesel fuel and a biodiesel blend exhaust in an underground mine. Personal exposure monitoring was performed in a non-operational, hard rock underground mine during use of a load-haul-dump vehicle. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA8) exposure concentrations of ultra-low sulfur diesel and 75% biodiesel/25% diesel blend (B75) fuels were compared.?Compared to diesel, use of B75 was associated with relative percent reductions of 22 and 28% in median respirable (r) diesel particulate matter (DPM) and nitrogen dioxide and 25 and 23% increases in median total DPM and nitric oxide TWA8 exposure concentrations, respectively. Diesel was associated with a slightly greater total geometric mean mass concentration and lower mean surface area concentration.?Although further testing is needed, B75 has the potential to reduce rDPM exposures. |
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| Keywords: | Biodiesel diesel fuel exhaust underground mine |
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