Air contaminant exposures during the operation of lawn and garden equipment.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated the Small Engine Exposure Study (SEES) to evaluate potential exposures among users of small, gasoline-powered, non-road spark-ignition (SI) lawn and garden engines. Equipment tested included riding tractors, walk-behind lawn mowers, string trimmers, and chainsaws. Personal and background air quality measurements were collected on equipment operators for carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter <or=2.5 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM(2.5)), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and aldehydes. PM(2.5) measurements included continuous and integrated mass, elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), and trace metals. Aldehyde measurements included speciation for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The results demonstrated that equipment operators can experience elevated exposures to CO, PM(2.5) and air toxics while operating these engines. Ten-second average CO personal exposures spanned over two orders of magnitude, with short-term concentrations exceeding 120 p.p.m. for some engine applications tested. PM(2.5) concentrations averaged over each engine test period also spanned two orders of magnitude. The results also suggest that health standards, such as the CO and PM(2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), may be exceeded for certain equipment types under certain operating scenarios. Aldehyde measurements suggested exposures from primary engine emissions that exceed typical ambient concentrations, but do not exceed occupational health standards. Continuous exposure measurements illustrated the important role of the operator's activity and environmental conditions in affecting exposure levels.
Baldauf
Richard
R
Mobile Source Research Lab, National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27111, USA. Baldauf.richard@epa.gov
Fortune
Christopher
C
Weinstein
Jason
J
Wheeler
Michael
M
Blanchard
Fred
F
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*; D014835:Volatilization
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000447:Aldehydes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002248:Carbon Monoxide