Estimation of the diesel exhaust exposures of railroad workers. II. National and historical exposures

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700130308· OSTI ID:7244271

Woskie, S R; Smith, T J; Hammond, S K; Schenker, M B; Garshick, E; Speizer, F E

The diesel exhaust exposures of railroad workers in thirteen job groups from four railroads in the United States were used to estimate U.S. national average exposures with a linear statistical model which accounts for the significant variability in exposure caused by climate, the differences among railroads and the uneven distribution of railroad workers across climatic regions. Personal measurements of respirable particulate matter, adjusted to remove the contribution of cigarette smoke particles, were used as a marker for diesel exhaust. The estimated national means of adjusted respirable particulate matter (ARP) averaged 10 micrograms/m3 lower than the simple means for each job group, reflecting the climatic differences between the northern railroads studied and the distribution of railroad workers nationally. Limited historical records, including some industrial hygiene data, were used to evaluate past diesel exhaust exposures, which were estimated to be approximately constant from the 1950's to 1983.

• Research Organization: Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7244271
• Journal Information: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Ind. Med.; (United States) Vol. 13:3; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020600* -- Petroleum-- Health & Safety
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
DIESEL ENGINES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINES
EXHAUST GASES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GASEOUS WASTES
GASES
HEAT ENGINES
INHALATION
INTAKE
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PARTICLES
PARTICULATES
PERSONNEL
PETROLEUM
POLLUTION
TOXICITY
WASTES
WEATHER