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Vehicles with petrol or diesel motors that
are started and driven indoors represent
a health hazard. Among the especially
exposed occupational groups are truck
drivers, workshop personnel and personnel
in mines or at harbours. While the
health risks are naturally more evident
for those who drive or work close to the
vehicles, persons in adjoining areas are
also exposed.
It is important to point out that within
industry and trade, it is more common
than one might believe that vehicles
are started or driven short distances
indoors, more or less routinely.
The very small particles
are the big problem
Motor exhausts are a mixture of gases
and carbon particles coated with various
organic and non-organic substances.
Exhaust gases contain more than 40
substances that are listed as hazardous
air pollutants. Of these, 15 cause cancer.
One of the problems is that we can only
see particles down to 20 microns with the
naked eye, while 90 percent of exhaust
gas particles are less than 1 micron. This
means that we seldom see the gases,
and this especially applies to modern
petrol and diesel motors.
Diesel motors produce 20 to 100 times
more particles than petrol vehicles.
Moreover, new-generation diesels primarily
produce small "invisible" particles
and these small, lighter particles stay in
the air longer. In other words, exhaust
hazards are not all behind us, even
if your company modernises its vehicle
fleet.
Particles fasten in the lungs
Each time you inhale particles, a portion
of them fasten in the lung tissue.
The smaller the particles are, the further
they penetrate. The short- term effects
are coughing, difficulties in breathing
or asthma attacks. On the long-term,
problems arise with chronic bronchitis,
reduced lung capacity, and in the worst
event, lung cancer.
Under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH) there is every reason to solve the problem of exhaust gases indoors. An indoor system employing exhaust hoses is the classic solution, but in very many cases, this is neither economically nor practically feasible. The alternative solution is with mobile exhaust filters that are easily mounted directly on exhaust pipes, as described in HSE - Diesel Engine Exhaust Emmission - Guide for Employees (PDF) – EHC filters stop 99% of hazardous particle emissions.
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