Characterization of Preliminary Data of Indoor Air Quality in Diesel Construction Equipment Cabs

Abstract

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) has been the center of attention of researchers for a long period of time, but little is known about the quality of air experienced by Heavy-duty Diesel (HDD) Construction Equipment operators. Factors such as being close to diesel exhaust as well as typical existing pollutants in construction sites, increase the probability of having poor IAQ in HDD equipment cabs. This research developed a framework to answer the question of whether HDD equipment operator�s exposure to pollutants are raising concerns. In total, fourteen data sets were collected at a construction site for a whole workday from each piece of equipment for Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Total Volatile Organic Compounds (tVOC), Temperature, and Relative Humidity. To determine the quality of air inside the cab, collected data was compared and assessed for compliance with IAQ limits and screening values. These values were extracted from twelve surveyed standards and guides including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Moreover, data was collected from ambient air of the construction site and four university offices to compare to the collected data from HDD equipment cabs in order to gain a better understanding of IAQ differences. Results showed that none of the measured pollutants exceeded the OSHA limits, which are set for occupational exposures and much greater than other indoor area exposure limits. However, regarding the other limits and screening values surveyed for this study, tVOC and especially PM2.5 were high enough to exceed most of them and raise concerns. Additionally, all of the measured pollutants were at higher levels inside the HDD equipment cabs compared to the construction site ambient air outside the cab, suggesting that the tested equipment cabs may cause accumulation of pollutants inside them. Moreover, results from university offices revealed that the surveyed HDD equipment operators experienced worse IAQ than office occupants.