Heavy-Duty Engine Emissions: Response

Abstract

Vol. 112, No. 13 PerspectivesOpen AccessHeavy-Duty Engine Emissions: Response Janet Arey Janet Arey Search for more papers by this author Published:1 September 2004https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.112-a728aAboutSectionsPDF ToolsDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit In his letter, Schaeffer concludes that because of the ongoing changes in diesel technology, “establishing standardized reference materials [of diesel exhaust particles (DEPs)] will be particularly challenging.” As amply illustrated by the work of DeMarini et al. (2004) and Singh et al. (2004), which prompted my commentary (Arey 2004), the effort is worth making because multidisciplinary studies on representative DEP samples are needed if meaningful assessments of the health hazards associated with DEPs are to be made. DeMarini et al. (2004) and Singh et al. (2004) highlighted the chemical, physical, and biological differences between two widely used DEP samples, one mainly studied for pulmonary toxicity and the other for genotoxicity; before their studies, the chemical composition and biologic activity of the samples had not been compared.In his letter, Schaeffer describes the Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES), an important diesel assessment project currently in the planning stage by the Health Effects Institute (Boston, MA). Perusing Warren’s presentation on the project (Warren 2004) cited by Schaeffer, I found that the utility of standard reference materials that allow for collaborations and exhaustive characterization of DEPs is reinforced by several issues Warren highlighted; for example, which of the “794 measurements under consideration” should be made; what should the results be compared to; and what health effect testing should be conducted? Until we fully understand the mechanisms of action of diesel and ambient particles that are involved in their adverse health effects, we need more multidisciplinary, collaborative efforts to study samples that can be shared among researchers.ReferencesArey J. 2004. A tale of two diesels. Environ Health Perspect 112:812-81315175165. Link, Google ScholarDeMarini DM, Brooks LR, Warren SH, Kobayashi T, Gilmour MI, Singh P. 2004. Bioassay-directed fractionation and Salmonella mutagenicity of automobile and forklift diesel exhaust particles. Environ Health Perspect 112:814-81915175166. Link, Google ScholarSingh P, DeMarini DM, Dick CAJ, Tabor DG, Ryan JV, Linak WPet al.. 2004. Sample characterization of automobile and forklift diesel exhaust particles and comparative pulmonary toxicity in mice. Environ Health Perspect 112:820-82515175167. Link, Google ScholarWarren J 2004. Update on the ACES Diesel Assessment Program. Available: http://www.healtheffects.org/Slides/AnnConf2004/Warren.pdf [accessed 1 July 2004]. Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 112, No. 13 September 2004Metrics About Article Metrics Publication History Originally published1 September 2004Published in print1 September 2004 Financial disclosuresPDF download License information EHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted. Note to readers with disabilities EHP strives to ensure that all journal content is accessible to all readers. However, some figures and Supplemental Material published in EHP articles may not conform to 508 standards due to the complexity of the information being presented. If you need assistance accessing journal content, please contact [email protected]. Our staff will work with you to assess and meet your accessibility needs within 3 working days.