Comparison of personal diesel and biodiesel exhaust exposures in an underground mine.
This study aimed to compare personal exposures to diesel fuel and a biodiesel blend exhaust in an underground mine. Personal exposure monitoring was performed in a non-operational, hard rock underground mine during use of a load-haul-dump vehicle. Eight-hour time-weighted average (TWA8) exposure concentrations of ultra-low sulfur diesel and 75% biodiesel/25% diesel blend (B75) fuels were compared.  Compared to diesel, use of B75 was associated with relative percent reductions of 22 and 28% in median respirable (r) diesel particulate matter (DPM) and nitrogen dioxide and 25 and 23% increases in median total DPM and nitric oxide TWA8exposure concentrations, respectively. Diesel was associated with a slightly greater total geometric mean mass concentration and lower mean surface area concentration.  Although further testing is needed, B75 has the potential to reduce rDPM exposures.
a Mining Safety and Health Program, Environmental and Occupational Health, Division of Community, Environment, and Policy, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona.
Eric A
EA
Lutz
a Mining Safety and Health Program, Environmental and Occupational Health, Division of Community, Environment, and Policy, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona.
Rustin J
RJ
Reed
a Mining Safety and Health Program, Environmental and Occupational Health, Division of Community, Environment, and Policy, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona.
Vivien S T
VST
Lee
a Mining Safety and Health Program, Environmental and Occupational Health, Division of Community, Environment, and Policy, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona.
Jefferey L
JL
Burgess
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D056804:Biofuels; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005742:Gasoline; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D056804:Biofuels; D005742:Gasoline; D052638:Particulate Matter; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide
Biodiesel; diesel; fuel exhaust; underground mine