Measuring diesel engine emissions with PM4-2 measuring device

Diesel engine emissions (DEE) can be determined with our PM4-2 measuring device. To measure diesel engine emissions, it generates a constant air volume flow. Furthermore, fluctuations in the air during sampling of diesel engine emissions can be compensated for by pressure and temperature compensation. This means that precise measurements of diesel engine emissions can be carried out despite fluctuating weather conditions and temperatures.

Measuring diesel engine emissions – further aspects

However, it is not only the right measuring devices that are important, but also the measuring position. It must be selected for measuring diesel engine emissions in such a way that the results can be meaningful when determining diesel engine emissions. At the workplace, diesel engine emissions are often measured at breathing height so that it is possible to determine how much of the pollutants are inhaled.

This poses a problem in public spaces, as many parameters come together and influence the measurement. A uniform regulation should be found here in order to achieve comparability and thus arrive at effective solutions. For more information on measurements and measuring devices, please contact us.

What are diesel engine emissions – DEE?

The term diesel engine emissions refers to the substances that are emitted when a diesel engine is used. This is a mixture of substances consisting of particles and gases. It is not possible to provide a generally valid list of the components, as they are determined by the mode of operation and engine type. However, there are some substances that are always present.
These include:

Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Nitric oxide (NO)
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
Diesel soot (EC; according to TRGS 900)

Diesel soot particles are described in more detail in TRGS 900.

These are “insoluble nuclei of elemental carbon (EC)” that become visible on a filter. Other (more or less biosoluble) substances can be adsorbed on this elemental carbon, which pose further risks to health (e.g. carcinogenic substances). Accordingly, various particles are summarized under this term, but the main component is always carbon.

Where can DEE be found?

Diesel engine emissions (DEE) occur whenever a diesel engine is put into operation and emits exhaust gases. This can be the case both at the workplace and at home. In the work process, this can be diesel-powered vehicles (e.g. lifting vehicles, forklifts), outside the work situation it is mainly everyday road traffic. How high and how long the exposure to DEE is depends on how long you spend in the polluted environment. However, the minimization requirement applies in companies (according to §§ 8, 9 GefStoffV applies to DEE). This means that employees should only be exposed to DEE if it is unavoidable. The employer must therefore always check whether the use of diesel-powered machines and vehicles can be replaced by electric motors.

DEE in everyday life

In an occupational environment, exposure is calculable and various protective measures are in place. Exposure to diesel engine emissions in everyday life is more difficult to assess. But where can DEE be found in everyday life? The simplest answer is: on the road. Every passing diesel releases DEE, which pedestrians are then exposed to. However, the question of the hazard potential in everyday life is more difficult to answer. Various parameters are important for assessing exposure, such as the duration of exposure, the concentration of the substance and the composition of the mixture of substances.

Danger from DEE

The various components of DEE pose different hazards as they are substance-specific. Carbon monoxide is toxic and, like carbon dioxide, can cause asphyxiation. Nitrogen oxides are also toxic and cause lung damage. Furthermore, DEE is suspected of being carcinogenic.
However, the exact effects depend on the concentration of the substance and the duration of exposure. For this reason, a distinction is often made between “short-term and long-term exposure”. This describes how long one is exposed to the harmful substances and what effect they have. Various protective measures take effect in the operational process, and the order of priority of these measures must be carried out according to the “STOP principle” (see TRGS 500 “Protective measures” (S = Substitution, T = Technical, O = Organizational and P = Personal protective measures).

Diesel scandal

Everyone is talking about the “diesel scandal”. But what exactly is the problem? There is no question that nitrogen oxides are harmful. However, the first question is how great the pollution really is in everyday life.

At the workplace, the duration of exposure is taken into account in the risk assessment. It is of course extremely difficult to make a generally valid statement on this for everyday life, which is why the limit values are important. The currently valid Emission levels for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles (levels 5 and 6) are published in Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007. The values for nitrogen oxides are given in mg/km (milligrams per kilometer of driving distance) and are 180 mg/km for diesel vehicles for stage 5.

This contrasts with a general annual limit value of 40µg/m³ and a 1-hour limit value of 200µg/m³ (may not be exceeded more than 18 times in a calendar year). The comparability of these values is certainly one reason for the discussion about driving bans and compliance with the limit values.
The determination of limit values is of great importance, as this is linked to further measures such as a driving ban for certain cars in city centers. However, it is questionable whether a driving ban for individual roads or city centers will solve the pollution problem. Opponents of this measure argue that many drivers would then take a detour and the problem would simply be shifted to other roads. There is also the question of who would be exempt from a driving ban. For many small businesses, the ban would pose a major business problem as they would no longer be able to drive to their customers.

Sources:
[1]: https://www.bfga.de/infothek/bfga-newsletter-arbeitsschutz/dieselmotoremissionen-dme/
[2]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Rechtstexte-und-Technische-Regeln/Regelwerk/TRGS/pdf/TRGS-554.pdf?__blob=publicationFile
[3]: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/196641/Dieselmotoremissionen-Eine-Gefahr-fuer-die-Gesundheit
[4]: https://www.baua.de/DE/Angebote/Rechtstexte-und-Technische-Regeln/Regelwerk/TRGS/pdf/900/900-dieselmotorenemissionen-dme-russpartikel-als-ec.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=2
[5]: https://www.dguv.de/medien/ifa/de/vera/2012_saet_gefahrstoffe/05_felten.pdf
[6]: https://www.bg-verkehr.de/arbeitssicherheit-gesundheit/branchen/gueterkraftverkehr/gesundheitsgefahren/gefahrstoffe/abgase
[7]: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/luft/luftschadstoffe/stickstoffoxide
[8]: https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/service/uba-fragen/was-schreiben-die-abgasnormen-der-eu-fuer-kfz-vor