Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons During Diesel Combustion

Identification and determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Diesel exhaust in the working environment and assessment of workers’ occupational exposure to these suspected human carcinogens were the aim of this experimental investigation. The range of exposure factors calculated on the basis of 9 individual PAH concentrations determined in personal air samples shows that time-averaged concentration of these compounds did not exceed the Polish Maximum Admissible Concentration (MAC) value for PAHs, that is, 2 µg x m-3. The highest concentrations of PAHs were determined in the breathing zone of forklift operators. The maximum exposure factor was 0.427 µg x m-3(about 1/4 of MAC).