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Idling study raises concern over in-cab pollution
By Jill Dunn
An Environmental Protection Agency study of air pollution inside and outside trucks idling at a truck stop indicated particle concentrations “might be a concern.”
The study involved six trucks idling in different areas of a large truck stop in Knoxville, Tenn. during December 2004 and January 2005. The trucks were model years 1996-2003 with engines ranging from 410 to 430 horsepower. The truck brands were not identified.
Researchers concluded that particulate concentrations may be a concern inside and outside the truck.
“It was noted that there might be routes of entry other than just the fresh air intake vents and that it may arise from crankcase emissions or other leaks inside the engine compartment,” said the study’s conclusion. The study’s authors recommend a follow-up study to identify the source of contamination.
An additional test of a truck in an empty parking lot without other idling trucks nearby yielded similar results as trucks tested around other trucks. That indicated the truck by itself plays a major role in contributing to the concentrations of pollutants outside and inside the cab. This implies that some exhaust emissions come from locations other than the smokestack.
Knoxville’s National Transportation Research Center of Oak Ridge National Laboratories funded the study under subcontract from EPA.
Truck makers follow exhaust system integrity specifications listed in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. However, as equipment ages, it can develop leaks. Experts say owners should follow federal guidelines for route inspections, paying attention to tightness of clamps, joints and mounting brackets, looking for corrosion and wear, and checking manifold gaskets, flex tubing, the engine compartment, filters and the drip tube.
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