Diesel exhaust fume, found in every vehicle service station which includes trucks, buses, emergency response vehicles, private vehicles, farm machinery and construction equipment, is produced when an engine burns diesel fuel.
The specific composition of the exhaust fume depends on factors such as fuel quality, engine type and engine condition. It is a complex mixture of thousands of gases and particles (soot) containing several toxic air contaminants. These include many known or suspected carcinogenic substances (benzene, arsenic and formaldehyde).
It also contains other harmful pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Because of their particle size, if they are inhaled, they can reach deep down into the lung. Even short-term exposure to diesel exhaust can cause eye irritation, breathing problems and inflammatory symptoms. Prolonged (chronic) exposure can lead to coughing and breathlessness, lung damage and (depending on exposure) an increased risk of lung cancer.