An investigation into the effect of a ceramic particle trap on the chemical mutagens in diesel exhaust.
Diesel exhaust particles and vapor phase samples were collected from the diluted (15:1) exhaust of a 10.4 L displacement medium-duty engine (Caterpillar 3208), operated under EPA steady-state cycle Modes 4 and 5 conditions for load (50 and 75 percent, respectively) and speed (1680 rpm). Baseline (uncontrolled) emissions were compared to the exhaust modified by the use of an uncatalyzed monolithic ceramic trap (Corning). The Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity bioassay (Ames Test) was used to direct the course of chemical analyses. Total particulate matter (TPM), soluble organic fraction (SOF) (from TPM), sulfate fraction (SO4) (from TPM), and solid fraction (SOL) (from particle) were determined from dilute exhaust particles collected on 47 mm Teflon-coated woven glass fiber filters. Coincidentally, particles were collected on 508 x 508 mm Teflon-coated non-woven glass fiber filters, and vapor-phase samples were collected on XAD-2 resin. The SOF and VOC for chemical and biological characterization were obtained by Soxhlet extraction of samples with dichloromethane (DCM). Hydrocarbon mass balances were developed to evaluate the efficiency of the sampling system. Use of the ceramic traps caused no change in engine total hydrocarbon (HC) levels at Mode 4 but decreases in TPM, SOF, and NO2 were noted. In terms of HC emissions only, the percentage of SOF was significantly reduced, but the percentage of VOC was unchanged. For Mode 5, the engine HC levels were significantly reduced but the proportions of HC components, i.e. the percentage of SOF and the percentage of VOC, did not change significantly. Engine emission levels of TPM, SOF, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were also significantly reduced at Mode 5. At both Modes 4 and 5, use of the ceramic particle traps caused an increase in the direct-acting (TA98) mutagenicity (revertants/microgram) of the SOF and a decrease in the activity of the VOC. The traps caused a 70 percent reduction of TPM at Mode 4 but only a 45 percent reduction in particulate-associated direct-acting mutagenicity on the basis of raw exhaust emissions (kRevertants/m3). At Mode 5 with the traps, there was an 85 percent reduction in TPM and only a 25 percent reduction in the activity of the SOF. The direct-acting mutagenicity of the VOC was reduced by use of the traps by 40 and 65 percent (kRevertants/m3) for Modes 4 and 5, respectively. In contrast, the indirect-acting mutagenicity of the Mode 4 VOC increased nearly 150 percent. Filter loading and reexposure experiments indicated that sampling artifacts did not contribute to the SOF mutagenicity at Mode 4.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Bagley
S T
ST
Dept. of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton 49931.
Dorie
L D
LD
Leddy
D G
DG
Johnson
J H
JH
D002516:Ceramics; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control
D009153:Mutagens; D001335:Vehicle Emissions