Construction Research Congress 2020
Evaluation of Air Pollutants in Nonroad Diesel Construction Equipment Cabs
Publication: Construction Research Congress 2020: Safety, Workforce, and Education
ABSTRACT
Previous research indicates that air quality near the cabs of nonroad diesel equipment may exceed recommended exposure limits for certain pollutants. The objective of this case study was to collect and analyze air pollutant data near the cabs of nonroad diesel equipment while performing real-world activities. Using state-of-the-art instrumentation, the research team conducted 24 tests on nine different items of nonroad equipment. The team collected data related to pollutant concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter, and black carbon. Average concentrations of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide did not exceed published exposure limits on a consistent basis, but their maximum values occasionally exceeded the limits. Carbon dioxide concentrations frequently exceeded recommended levels for adequate ventilation. The most concerning results belonged to particulate matter and black carbon. Concentrations of respirable particulates often exceeded recommended levels on a sustained basis. Overall, the case study yielded enough information to conclude that studying near-cab air quality in nonroad equipment cabs is necessary to reduce hazards related to human health, safety, and productivity for equipment operators.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Centers Program and the Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH) funded this research in whole under Project Number TTI-01-11.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Construction Research Congress 2020: Safety, Workforce, and Education
Pages: 608 - 615
Editors: Mounir El Asmar, Ph.D., Arizona State University, David Grau, Ph.D., Arizona State University, and Pingbo Tang, Ph.D., Arizona State University
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8287-2
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Nov 9, 2020
Published in print: Nov 9, 2020
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