Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 90-088-2110, Yellow Freight System, Inc. , Columbus, Ohio, Maybrook, New York

Technical Report · Tue May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6014393

Zaebst, D D; Cooper, T C; Stern, F B; Hornung, R W

In response to a request from the Yellow Freight Systems, Inc. (SIC-4213) an evaluation was made of the effectiveness of two techniques for controlling the exposures of dockworkers to exhaust emissions from diesel powered forklift trucks. These two techniques were retrofitting diesel towmotors with high temperature exhaust filtration units, and the use of overhead exhaust fans located in the ceiling of the dock. Surveys were conducted at facilities in Columbus, Ohio and Maybrook, New York. The exposure to submicrometer elemental carbon (1333864) during use of propane engines was 0.9 micrograms/cubic meter (microg/cu m), significantly lower than during the use of filtered diesel engines (1.9 microg/cu m) and this was significantly lower than during the use of unfiltered diesel engines (24microg/cu m). Concentrations of other chemical components measured and airborne mutagenicity in two dock areas indicated no significant changes. Most respiratory and other acute symptoms in workers were significantly reduced when diesel powered towmotors were substituted with either propane powered towmotors or with diesel powered towmotors fitted with the exhaust filtration units. The installation of 12 roof exhaust fans was not effective in reducing exposures to diesel exhaust. The authors conclude that use of propane or filtered diesel towmotors significantly reduced particulate exposures, while roof exhaust fans were not effective. The authors recommend measures to aid in controlling vehicle emissions.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6014393
• Report Number(s): PB-92-114651/XAB; HETA--90-088-2110
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540120* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CARBON
CONTROL
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
DIESEL ENGINES
ELEMENTS
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FEDERAL REGION II
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUIDS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
NEW YORK
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
OHIO
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
POLLUTION CONTROL
RECOMMENDATIONS
RETROFITTING
USA
VENTILATION
WASTES