© 2004 British Occupational Hygiene Society Published by Oxford University Press DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/meh018 Occupational Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Fumes

There is currently no OEL for diesel fumes in the UK. This study reports parallel measure-ments of airborne levels of diesel fume pollutants in nine distribution depots where diesel powered fork-lift trucks (FLTs) were in use. Correlations between individual pollutants are assessed as well as their spatial distribution. Samples were collected on board FLTs and at background positions at nine distribution depots. Substances measured and the range of expos-ures by site were: respirable dust (n = 76) GM ≤ 80–179 µg/m3; elemental carbon (n = 79) GM = 7–55 µg/m3; organic carbon (n = 79) GM = 11–69 µg/m3; ultrafine particles (n = 17) range = 58–231 × 103 particles/cm3; selected particulate phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocar-bons (PAHs) (n = 14) range = 6–37 ng/m3. In addition, a tracer method based on ultrafine particle measurements was used to estimate the spatial distribution of total carbon and PAHs at the sites monitored. The spatial distribution was found to be reasonably uniform. Major diesel fume aerosol components were, in general, well correlated (r = 0.62–0.97). CO2 measure-ments were also made and found to be below the HSE guideline of 1000 p.p.m., with most levels below 600 p.p.m