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Title: Particulate diesel-exhaust characterization study

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6372626

Several analyses were made of the diesel-exhaust particulates which were used in a study made to determine the effects of long-term exposure to coal dust and exhaust from diesel engines on laboratory animals. The diesel engine used was of a type used in underground-mining operations, and was equipped with a water scrubber in the exhaust line. Lipid chromatographic fluorescence detection of the solvent extracts of the diesel exhaust components showed fluorescing compounds covering a wide range of polarity to be present in the exhaust samples. Preparative fractions of solvent extracts of particulate diesel exhaust indicated that the majority of the mass recovered was in the nonpolar fraction. Sufficient quantities of nitroarenes were isolated for identification purposes; high-resolution mass spectroscopy with selected ion monitoring was used. 1-Nitropyrene and a nitrofluorene isomer were identified in several of the extract fractions. Both direct and enzyme-activated mutagens were present in the diesel particulate and scrubber water extract and the unextracted scrubber particulate. The authors conclude that the contents of the scrubber may represent a significant health hazard due to the presence of mutagens.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
OSTI ID:
6372626
Report Number(s):
PB-87-163507/XAB
Resource Relation:
Other Information: See also PB--87-163499
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English