Why Is This Important?

Diesel engines emit a complex mixture of air pollutants, including both particles and gases. Diesel particulate matter includes soot, metallic abrasion particles, sulfates, and silicates. Because of their small size, inhaled particles may penetrate deep into the lungs. Exposures have been linked to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, coughing, difficulty in breathing, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Prolonged exposures can lead to heart disease, lung disease, and lung cancer. It has been estimated that hundreds of New Jersey residents die or suffer respiratory illnesses every year from harmful diesel particulate matter.

Definition

Mean of modeled annual average diesel particulate matter concentration for a county

Data Sources

• USEPA Air Toxics Screening Assessment and NJDEP Division of Air Quality
  (https://www.epa.gov/AirToxScreen)
• Air Toxics Screening Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  (https://www.epa.gov/AirToxScreen)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

All New Jersey counties exceed the health benchmark of 0.0033 micrograms of diesel particulate matter per cubic meter of air. The highest ambient air concentration can be found in Hudson County.

What Is Being Done?

The NJDEP's Diesel Risk Reduction Program is reducing the amount of particulate matter emitted by diesel vehicles. Key strategies of the program include: a mandatory diesel retrofit program; idling restrictions; a heavy duty diesel vehicle inspection program; and efforts to reduce emissions at New Jersey's ports.

Available Services

To view select air quality data collected at outdoor monitors across the United States go to: [http://www.epa.gov/airdata]

More Resources

The USEPA Integrated Risk Information System provides more detailed information about diesel engine exhaust and research studies on its health effects at the following URL: [https://iris.epa.gov/ChemicalLanding/&substance_nmbr=642] Information on New Jersey Air Toxics and associated health benchmarks can be found at: [https://dep.nj.gov/airplanning/airtoxics/] NJ Clean Air Council 2012 Public Hearing (Transportation & Small Sources of Air Pollution) [https://dep.nj.gov/cleanaircouncil/previous-public-hearings/] Stop the Soot: [http://www.stopthesoot.org/] NJDEP "What's in My Community?" mapping application: [https://njdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=76194937cbbe46b1ab9a9ec37c7d709b] On the map you will find every facility with an air permit registered with the Division of Air Quality at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.