Note:

In the interest of simplicity, we do not distinguish between elemental and total carbon in the brochure, infographic, and one-pager.

 The current Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for diesel exhaust in Ontario mines is measured in total carbon with the current OEL set at 400 µg/m3 of total carbon. Current best practice estimates diesel particulate exposure by measuring elemental carbon. Elemental carbon is a component of total carbon; however, total carbon includes contaminants such as diesel mist and cigarette smoke. To only assess particulates from diesel exhaust only, elemental carbon measures is the most accurate tool to enforce regulation.

 Our goal is to set the new OEL for diesel particulate matter to 20 µg/m3 of elemental carbon.

 Different countries apply different measurement practices. Finland, Germany, Australia and Switzerland use Elemental Carbon for their OELs. The USA and Canada currently use Total Carbon. As such, Figure 5 in the brochure, Figure 1 in the infographic, and Figure 2 in the one-pager has OELs in both total carbon and elemental carbon.

Brochure References

[1]

Morla, R., & Karekal, S. (2017). Diesel particulate matter investigation in underground coal mines. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 9(4), 2698-2703. doi: 10.21817/ijet/2017/v9i4/170904401

[2]

Mine Health and Safety Council. (2018). Develop methodologies for the measurement of diesel exhaust emissions (DEE) and diesel particulate matter (DPM). SIM 150601 Phase 1.

[3]

Foster, W. M., & Costa, D. L. (2005). Air Pollutants and the Respiratory Tract, edit Claude Lenfant. Lung Biology in Health and Disease, edit Taylor and Francis group, 204.

[4]

World Health Organization. (2014). IARC monographs: Diesel and gasoline engine exhausts and some nitroarenes. Volume 105. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono105.pdf 

[5]

CAREX Canada. (2019). Setting an occupational exposure limit for diesel engine exhaust in Canada: Challenges and opportunities. https://www.carexcanada.ca/CAREXCanada_DEE_OEL_REPORT_2019.pdf

 This figure shows a mix of OELs with elemental or total carbon. See notes above. We are recommending an OEL of 20 µg/m3 of elemental carbon.

[6]

Taxell, P., & Santonen, T. (2016). The Nordic expert group for criteria documentation of health risks from chemicals and the Dutch expert committee on occupational safety: 149. Diesel engine exhaust. Work and Health, 49(6), 1-144. https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/handle/2077/44340/gupea_2077_44340_1.pdf;jsessionid=1CA48946E5EFCC3CCA6F1539F7676ECB?sequence=1

[7]

Cancer Care Ontario, Occupational Cancer Research Centre. (2017). Burden of occupational cancer in Ontario: Major workplace carcinogens and prevention od exposure. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario. http://www.occupationalcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Burden-of-Occupational-Cancer-in-Ontario.pdf

The Occupational Cancer Research Centre recommends an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) for diesel particulate emissions of 20 μg/m3 elemental carbon based on evidence of health effects at low levels and feasibility considerations, while continuing to work towards limits that reflect the current science.

 Infographic References

[1]

CAREX Canada. (2019). Setting an occupational exposure limit for diesel engine exhaust in Canada: Challenges and opportunities. https://www.carexcanada.ca/CAREXCanada_DEE_OEL_REPORT_2019.pdf

 See notes above.

[2]

Cancer Care Ontario, Occupational Cancer Research Centre. (2017). Burden of occupational cancer in Ontario: Major workplace carcinogens and prevention od exposure. Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario. http://www.occupationalcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Burden-of-Occupational-Cancer-in-Ontario.pdf

[3]

Occupational Cancer Research Centre. (2022. Chronic respiratory disease report. Highlights from the ODSS. http://www.occupationalcancer.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/chronic-respiratory-disease_report.pdf

 One-Pager References

 [1]

World Health Organization. (2014). IARC monographs: Diesel and gasoline engine exhausts and some nitroarenes. Volume 105. https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono105.pdf

[2]

CAREX Canada. (2019). Setting an occupational exposure limit for diesel engine exhaust in Canada: Challenges and opportunities. https://www.carexcanada.ca/CAREXCanada_DEE_OEL_REPORT_2019.pdf