Health Hazard Evaluation Report No. HETA 81-452-1128, Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District, Santa Cruz, California

摘要

On September 23-25, 1981, peak CO concentrations averaged 6 ppm and peak total hydrocarbon concentrations 3 ppm. No overexposures to CO or alkanes were measured based on NIOSH-recommended time-weighted average criteria (CO--35 ppm; alkanes C5 to C8--350 mg/cu m). The CO2, NO2, and SO2 air concentrations were below the limit of detection. No formaldehyde was detected. Total particulate (soot) ranged from none detectable to 0.06 mg/cu m. However, the diesel bus drivers (8) reported a high prevalence of eye and upper respiratory symptoms, while the gasoline bus drivers reported a high prevalence of headaches and upper respiratory irritation. Drivers of diesel engine buses were not overexposed to CO2, SO2, NO2, formaldehyde, total particulate, or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, even though diesel fumes were periodically smelled when the engine was at idle.