Dust entry

Diesel exhaust particulate

Fine particulate emitted in diesel exhaust, including at vehicle bays and other workplaces where diesel engines operate.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

airborne particulate exposurerespiratory exposure concern

Evidence

In a workplace-specific fire-station evaluation, NIOSH collected area air samples for diesel particulate and measured real-time particulate concentrations; the report found low measured levels at that facility but identified exhaust-capture and airflow problems that could allow vehicle exhaust to enter living areas.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 2 · Our Approach / Our Key Findings · 1

Collected area air samples of diesel particulate ... Measured real-time concentrations of ... particulates ... Levels of diesel particulate and other components of diesel exhaust were low in the apparatus bay and living quarters.

A separate 2026 NIOSH fire-station evaluation found that ultrafine particle concentrations repeatedly spiked above the instrument's upper range during engine starts and took about two hours to return to background levels, even though measured diesel particulate and other exhaust components were low; the report recommends improving exhaust and air-cleaner operation.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 4 · Conclusions · 1

Ultrafine particle concentrations in the apparatus bay consistently spiked above the upper limit of our direct reading instrument during engine start events and took approximately two hours to return to background levels.

Controls

tailpipe exhaust capture
local exhaust ventilation
maintain exhaust hoses and sensors
prevent exhaust airflow into occupied areas
exposure assessment
appropriate respiratory protection when required