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Tox Town - Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals where you live, work, and play
Dieselen español
Diesel fuel exhaust from vehicles can pollute the air with harmful chemicals.

What are diesel fuel and exhaust?

Diesel fuel is a petroleum product that is used in diesel engines in some automobiles, generators, light-duty and heavy-duty trucks, and railroad locomotives. It is a mixture of petroleum compounds and is less expensive to produce than gasoline

Diesel exhaust is a mixture of gases and tiny particles. This exhaust contains carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds, formaldehyde, benzene, volatile organic compounds, and other gases.

How might I be exposed to diesel fuel?

You can be exposed to diesel fuel if you breathe air that has been contaminated with diesel exhaust or vapors, or if you drink or swim in water that has been contaminated with diesel fuel from a spill or leaking underground storage tank. 

At work, you can be exposed to diesel fuel, diesel fuel vapors, and diesel exhaust if you are a truck or forklift driver, railroad worker, mine worker, auto mechanic, vehicle maintenance worker, firefighter, farm worker, lumberjack, trucking company worker, toll booth collector, or worker at a facility where diesel-powered equipment is used. 

You can also be exposed to diesel exhaust if you work in a tunnel, bus garage, parking garage, bridge, loading dock, facility where diesel-powered equipment is used, or in or near areas where vehicles with diesel engines are used, stored, or maintained.

How can diesel fuel affect my health?

Diesel exhaust is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen," according to the Eleventh Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program, because long-term exposure to diesel exhaust may cause lung cancer and other lung damage. 

Long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can cause chronic respiratory symptoms such as persistent cough and mucous, bronchitis, and reduced lung capacity. Long-term exposure to diesel fuel vapors can cause kidney damage and lower the blood’s ability to clot. Swallowing diesel oil can cause collapse, rapid low blood pressure, and loss of vision. 

In combination with other cancer-causing substances, such as cigarette smoke, welding fumes, and asbestos, long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can increase your risk of developing lung cancer. 

If you have asthma, emphysema, heart disease, or allergies, exposure to diesel exhaust can worsen those symptoms. 

Short-term exposure to diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs. It can cause light-headedness, feeling "high," headache, heartburn, weakness, numbness, tingling extremities, chest tightness, wheezing, coughing, nausea, and vomiting. 

Short-term exposure to diesel fuel vapors can cause difficulty breathing, nausea, eye irritation, increased blood pressure, headache, light-headedness, loss of appetite, poor coordination, and difficulty concentrating. 

Swallowing diesel oil can cause severe abdominal pain, vomiting, vomiting blood, swollen throat, burning of the food pipe, irritated skin, and severe pain or burning in the throat, nose, eyes, ears, lips or tongue. 

If you think your health has been affected by exposure to diesel fuel or diesel exhaust, contact your health care professional.

For poisoning emergencies or questions about possible poisons, please contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.


More Links
Diesel Exhaust (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
Diesel Exhaust (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
Diesel Exhaust in the United States (Environmental Protection Agency) PDF Icon
Diesel Fuel. Haz-Map (National Library of Medicine)
Diesel Fuel. Household Products Database (National Library of Medicine)
Fuel Oil No. 2. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (National Library of Medicine)
Fuel Oils. ToxFAQs (includes diesel) (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)

Locations where Diesel may be found
City
City
Farm
Farm
Town
Town
U.S.-Mexico Border
U.S.-Mexico Border
Port
Port
Brownfield
Climate Change
Construction
Drinking Water
Factory
Outdoor Air
Park
River
School Bus
Vehicles
Agricultural Runoff
Chemical Storage Tank
Climate Change
Drinking Water
Farm Pond
Landfill
Off-road Vehicles
Outdoor Air
Tree Farm and Logging
Vehicles
Climate Change
Drinking Water
Factory
Outdoor Air
Park
River
School Bus
Vehicles
Auto Shop
Border Crossing
Climate Change
Drinking Water
Illegal Dumps and Tire Piles
Maquiladora
Outdoor Air
Park
River
Stormwater and Sewage
Vehicles
Beach
Chemical Storage Tank
Climate Change
Coastal Brownfield
Cruise Ship
Drinking Water
Fuel Pipelines
Marina and Boats
Outdoor Air
River
Shipping
Shipyard
Storms and Floods
Stormwater and Sewage
Urban and Industrial Runoff
Vehicles

Last Updated: November 06, 2008

Interactive Graphic Neighborhoods City Farm Town US - Mexico Border Port