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SMALL ENGINE EXPOSURE STUDY
Impact/Purpose:
The project has been implemented as a pilot study to address the following objectives:
(1) Identify the potential range of exposures experienced during the operation of small, SI engines.
(2) Evaluate factors that lead to elevated exposures to combustion related pollutants.
(3) Estimate the contribution of engine exhaust emissions on personal exposures to combustion related pollutants.
Description:
A large segment of the population uses small, gasoline powered engines on a regular basis. These small engines include lawn mowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, and snow blowers. Since emissions from many of these engines are not regulated, human exposures may be high, especially for individuals whose occupations require the use of these engines daily. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that small, gasoline powered engines will account for over twenty-five percent of the mobile source particulate matter (PM) inventory in the next twenty years. This task evaluates the potential range of PM and air toxics exposures from the use of small, spark-ignition (SI) engines. The main objectives of the study are to identify potential exposures from the use of small, spark-ignition engines, and to determine the factors that lead to elevated exposures. The work consists of conducting scripted activities while measuring personal and background concentrations of PM, elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), volatile organic compounds (VOC), aldehydes, and carbon monoxide (CO).
This proposal will leverage the existing small engine emissions testing study being conducted by the National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL). When feasible, the same engines used for emissions testing will be used in the exposure study. Implementation of this project will provide imporant information for a potentially significant source of personal exposures to air pollutants.