HEALTH-EFFECTS OF DIESEL EMISSIONS

We have reviewed the literature relating to the health effects of dies el emissions with particular reference to acute and chronic morbidity and to carcinogenicity. It is apparent that exposure to diesel fumes i n sufficient concentrations may lead to eye and nasal irritation but t here is no evidence of any permanent effect. A transient decline of ve ntilatory capacity has been noted following such exposures. There is a lso some evidence that the chronic inhalation of diesel fumes leads to the development of cough and sputum, that is chronic bronchitis, howe ver, it is usually impossible to show a cause and effect relationship because of the concomitant and confounding exposures to mine dust and cigarette smoke. Although there have been a number of papers suggestin g that diesel fumes may act as an carcinogen, the weight of the eviden ce is against this hypothesis. Finally, the role of small particles, l ess than 10 mu m, which are frequently present in diesel emissions req uires further study since there is some limited evidence that they may be partly responsible for some of the exacerbations of asthma. (C) 19 97 British Occupational Hygiene Society. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.