| Diesel Particulate Matter |
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HEALTH RISKS The main Particulate fraction of Diesel exhaust consists of small individual particles. Because of their small size, inhaled particles may easily penetrate deep into the lungs. The surface-rich Morphology of these particles facilitates binding with other toxins in the environment, thus increasing the hazards of particle inhalation. Exposures have been linked with acute short-term symptoms such as headache, Dizziness , Light-headedness , Nausea , Coughing , difficult or labored breathing, tightness of chest, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Long-term exposures can lead to chronic, more serious health problems such as Cardiovascular Disease , cardiopulmonary disease, and Lung Cancer . Because they use diesel-powered equipment in poorly-ventilated areas, miners in underground metal and non-metal mines are the most affected by DPM; however, adverse health effects have also been observed in the general population at ambient atmospheric particle concentrations well below the concentrations in occupational settings. REGULATION Although the Mine Safety And Health Administration issued a health standard in January 2001 designed to reduce exposure in underground metal and nonmetal mines, on September 7, 2005, MSHA published a notice in the Federal Register proposing to postpone the effective date from January 2006 until January 2011. REFERENCES
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