GENERATOR FUME

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SEMINAR PRESENTATION ON:
THE DANGERS OF INHALING GENERATOR FUME.
PRESENT BY:
CHRISTOPHER UNYIME EBONG
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL SCIENCES,
FACULTY OF SCIENCE,
NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY,
WILBERFORCE ISLAND,
BAYELSA STATE.
JUNE, 2014.

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ABSTRACT
My goalwas to gather information about the levels of diesel/fuel Generators (soot)
operators are typically Affected and whether the age of their generators makes a
significant differences in exposure. The small sample size of these research work
shows that almost all the generator sets-indicates the severity of the occupational
health impacts according to my research at Amassoma Community in Southern
Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. Butmust be considered preliminary.
I would encourage air quality agencies if there is any in Nigeria. to do a
comprehensive evaluation on health impact assessment that is consumed by
manufacturer & consumer performances.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
TITLE PAGE - - - - - - - - - i
Abstract - - - - - - - - - ii
Table of Content - - - - - - - - iii-iv
List of Abbreviation - - - - - - - - iii
List of Nomenclature - - - - - - - - iii-iv
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION- - - - - 1
CHAPTER TWO
2.1 Factors that Affects the Composition of Generator Fume - - - 1-2
2.2 What actually the Colour of the Smoke (fume) Produced from Generator Engines. 2
2.3 Generator Fume and your Health - - - - - - 3
2.4 How does Carbon Monoxide in Generator fume Poisonthe Human Body? 3-4
2.5 When there is Complete and Incomplete Combustion from your Generator Set 4
2.6 Why is the Formation of Carbon Monoxide a Serious Concern to all of us?. 4-5
2.7 What can I do to Protect my Own Health - - - - - 5-6
2.8 What can be Done to Minimize or Eliminate Generator Fume or Exposure? 6-7
2.9 Are there OSHA (Standards for Diesel/Fuel Exhaust)? - - - 8
CHAPTER THREE
Conclusion/References - - - - - - - - 8-9
LIST OF ABBREVIATION
Ppm Part Per Million
MSD Materials Safety Data
HCS Hazard Communication Standard
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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LIST OF NOMENCLATURE
C Carbon Atom
O2 Oxygen atom
N2 Nitrogen atom
CO Carbon Monoxide
PAH Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon
SO2 Sulphur Oxide
H2 Hydrogen

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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Generator fume is well known to be hazardous to both human, animals and
sometimes the Green Plants are even affected. Most particularly risk been observed
are inhalation at workers in diesel/fuel industries site (such as trucking) and
communities located near major sources of diesel/fuel generator engines.
Generator fume inhaling have the potential to cause a range of damage to the
human health system. Since the exposure to generator engine fume is related to the
combustion design of diesel/fume engines. They use compressor instead of spark
plugs to ignite the fuel and the by-product of that processes a rich soap of gases
(mostly carbon (soot), Nitrogen, Water, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Oxide,
Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons). This particles or particle material of thousand
organic compounds emitting toxic fume that causes cancer to human health.
The carbon particles or soot content in the diesel/fuel generator varies for
60% to 80% depending on the types of (diesel/fuel) used by the generator engine.
Older engine are worse offenders, but even newly designed Generator is not a
guarantee that it will not be a pollutant equipment, it continue to emits as far too
many oxide of Nitrogen, carbon, Sulphur and other fine particle.
In fact, generator fume can produce about (20-100) times per day particles,
then a refined gasoline generator engines. This seminar term plate will help us with
a short guides on how we as individual can protect ourselves against fume
(hazardous) from generator engine, the precaution to be taken against fume and
what can be done to minimize or eliminate fume pollution.

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CHAPTER TWO
2.1 FACTORS THAT AFFECTS THE COMPOSITION OF GENERATOR FUME.
Questions like what really are the factors affecting the composite of fume from
generator engines are “ composite question” the quality and composition of
generator fume in your workplace, Homes or even your schooling environment
may varies depending on:
 The quantity of diesel/fuel you may used.
 The types of engine you will like to used (standard turbo, injector)
 The state of engine timing
 The fuel pump setting
 The state of engine temperature
 Whether the engines has been regularly maintained.
2.2 WHAT ACTUALLY THE COLOUR OF THE SMOKE (FUME) PRODUCED
FROM GENERATOR ENGINES INDICATE?
Smoke naturally is a product of combustion generator at you home or place of
work may produce these kinds of smoke, two of which can indicate engine
problems this types of smoke (fume) coloured are:
 Blue smoke (mainly oil and unburnt fuel) which indicate a poorly serviced
and tuned engine.
 Black smoke (soot, oil and unburnt fuel) which indicate a mechanical fault
with the engine.
 White smoke (water droplet and unburnt fuel) which is produced then the
engine is started from cold and disappears when the engines warm up.

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But it look funny that a very old generating engine, can produce white smoke
that has small sharp organic particles which may cause irritation to your upper
respiratory system.
2.3 GENERATOR FUME AND YOUR HEALTH
Generator fume and vapour can irritate eyes, noise, throat and lungs. But
excessive short term inhalation/exposure to generator fume can lead to
dizziness, drowsiness, loss of co-ordination, blood pressure elevation,
headaches, nausea asphyxiation and lung damage breathing generator fume for
a long term/periods of time can lead to kidney damage and reduce the clotting
ability of blood. However, generator fume are irritated to the skin and aggravate
any existing skin condition, and some of this skin conditional problem are
severe redness, pain and chemical burn blisters. If the diesel/fuel used is not
cleared from the skin quickly, it is absorbed into the blood stream where it can
cause symptom identical to inhalation exposure.
2.4 HOW DOES CARBON MONOXIDE IN GENERATOR FUME POISON
THE HUMAN BODY?
The human body depends solely on oxygen for the burning of fuel (food) to
provide the energy that allows cells to live and function. Oxygen makes up
approximately 21% of the atmosphere, and enters the lungs during breathing. In
the lungs it combines with a blood component called Haemoglobin.
When saturated with oxygen, it called (Oxyhemoglobin). After being
carried by the blood stream to the cells of the body, oxyhemoglobin release
oxygen to the body tissues. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it bonds
much more tightly to the hemoglobin than does oxygen. Once hemoglobin
combines with carbon monoxide to form carboxyhemoglobin, its ability to
combine with oxygen is completely lost.

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As more carboxyhemoglobin is formed, the amount of oxygen carried
to the cells and organs in the body decrease carbon monoxide starves the blood
of oxygen, literally causing the body to suffocate from the inside out. When the
carboxyhemoglobin concentration reaches a certain level, people get nauseous
become unconscious and ultimately die. How quickly symptoms appear
depends upon the concentration, or part per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide
in the air and the duration of exposure. A person’s size, age and general health
are also factors in how quickly effects of the gas will become evident. Since
oxygen and carbon monoxide are approximately the same density they mix
equally well in air.
2.5 WHEN THERE IS COMPLETE AND INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION
FROM YOUR GENERATOR SET.
Complete Combustion:
 In a combustion reaction, oxygen combines with another substance and
release energy in the form of heat and light.
 When oxygen is available, in sufficient amounts complete combustion
occurs.
 This means that all of the carbon atoms and hydrogen molecules
combines with oxygen atoms to form carbon dioxide and water.
 The general equation of the complete combustion of propane.
C3H8 + 9/2O2 3CO2 + 4H2O
 Complete combustion is more efficient process for generating heat
since the flame is mostly heat and little light.
Incomplete Combustion

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 When a reaction has too little oxygen incomplete combustion is the
result. A bright yellow flame is produced during incomplete
combustion from the engine. In addition to this, soot (carbon) and toxic
carbon monoxide can also be formed through incomplete combustion.
 An example equation of the incomplete combustion of propane is:
2C3H8(aq) + 7O2(g) + 2C(s) 2CO(g) + 2CO2(g) + H2O(l)
 The products of incomplete combustion include carbon dioxide and
H2O vapour as well as carbon, carbon dioxide or both.
 Incomplete combustion is a more inefficient process for generating
heat since it has less oxygen and therefore more light is produced
rather than heat. This will be seen with a more yellow flame.
2.6 WHY IS THE FORMATION OF CARBON MONOXIDE A SERIOUS
CONCERNTO ALL OF US?.
Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that is both colourless and odourless, carbon
monoxide can bind to oxygen in the blood which will decrease the number of
available oxygen binding sites. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include
headache, dizziness, and nausea, eventually suffocation can be result of carbon
monoxide poisoning. Proper ventilation and the use of carbon monoxide detectors
in the home can help to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
Although there has not been enough research to positively associate discovery
exposure to diesel/fuel generator fume with cancers.
However in one or two study, there has been evidences of increasing risk for
cancer of in men more than that of women, estimated to have substantial exposure
to diesel/fuel engine.
Generator operators and mechanics may be routinely exposed to diesel/fuel fume
with cancers which had chronic effects of this type of exposure. Every effort,

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should be made by you as an individual relating to how to prevents or reduce or
sometimes eliminate generator fume exposure/inhalation for your neigbourhood.
2.7 WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYOWN HEALTH
Sometimes when disaster struck many question come into our minds. Yes you can
do a number of things to protect your health from exposure to diesel/fuel generator
fume. These are:
 Ask your generator producer/expert for information on the hazard associate
with generator fume, read its manual, make sure you understand it and if not
seek clarification, avoid exposure where possible.
 Make full use of any control measure provided
 Know how to use the control measure provided and be able to detect any
faults.
 Report any faults in the control measure to your mechanics e.g. poor
extraction fans, pump and exhaust.
 Keep doors and window open to remove Carbon II Oxide produced by the
generators where possible.
 Turn off engine when there is unwanted smoke or gases in your
environment.
 Know how to correctly wear any respiratory protective equipment or
personal protective equipment your generator producer give if possible.
Keep it clean and serviced, store in a clean area provided by the
manufacturer. In addition to these control measure, there are a number of
personal hygiene measure you can take.
 Do not eat or smoke in areas where there is likely to be exposure

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 Wash your hands and face before drinking eating or leaving work
 Avoid skin contact with cold diesel/fuel and hot fuel or oil.
REMEMBER: You have a duty not only to protect your own health and safety but
also to ensure that your actions do not put others around you at a potential risk.
2.8 WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MINIMIZE OR ELIMINATE GENERATOR
FUME OR EXPOSURE?
There are a lot of steps that can be taken to reduce exposure to generator operators
and users. Ideally, public residential system should purchase a new generating
power/engine set that have reduced emission, but even with older diesel/fuel-
powered generators, measures can be taken to reduce or eliminate exposure or
unnecessary emission of harmful fume. May be the following with be of help to
all those who still intend the use of generating set.
IN THE GARAGE AND STORAGE FACILITIES
Exhaust system should be placed to ensure that mechanics and maintenance
workers are not being overexposed.
Regular maintenance should be performed on exhaust systems to ensure that they
are connected and in working order: filters should be changed and maintained on a
routine basis.
Measure should be taken to minimize diesel engine operation in garage
where no exhaust system exists. At minimum houses that exhaust to the outside of
the facility should be installed to the tailpipe of every generator set that is running
inside. The integrity of those houses and clamps should be monitored to ensure
that no diesel escapes into the garage.
2.9 ARE THERE OSHA (STANDARDS FOR DIESEL/FUEL EXHAUST)?

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Unfortunately, there are no occupational safety and Health Administration standard
for exposure to diesel/fuel exhaust. Diesel/fuel, however is covered under the
Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) (Right to know). Citizen are required to
implement a training program for operators regarding the hazards of diesel/fuel
during generator fueling (and other chemicals the worker/operator is exposed to)
and protective measures. Operators also must be trained to read diesel/fuel material
safety data sheet (MSD’s) and given the proper personal protective equipment (i.e.
glove) to prevent exposure. Some limited protection for the particles found in
diesel exhaust can be found under the nuisance dust standard that limits exposure
to respirable dust to a concentration of 5 (micrograms) per cubic feet over an eight
hour day. Locals who feel that their members are working under a cloud of diesel
fume should probably contact OSHA or ask the resident landlord district to invite
OSHA consultation to do air testing for particle especially idling for long periods
of time in generating yards.

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CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
The most striking findings of this work is that all of the generator operator are
exposed to unhealthy levels of soot, regardless of how new or clean their generator
is. This finding suggest that in order to reduce generator user (health risk) it is
likely necessary to upgrade the pork, generator importation, clean the generator,
reduce wait times at the generator operator garage and reduce pollution level from
other generating services.

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REFERENCES
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Part B: Health Risk for Diesel
Exhaust. 1998.
Dawson et al “Proposed Identification of Diesel Exhaust as a Toxic Air
Contaminant.
Part B, Health Risk Assessment for Diesel Exhaust “Public and Scientific Review
Panel” Feb. 1998.
California Air Resource Board, Diesel Risk Reduction Plan, October 2000.
Wilhem M, Ritz B “Local Variations in CO particles, Air pollution Environ.
Health Perspect.
Pope CA, Muhlestein. JB, May HT, Renlund DG, Anderson “Fine particulate Air”
Circulation Sep: 113(9).2005-2006 Dec, 5 114(23).
California Air Resource Board “Draft Diesel Exposure Assessment A-7 (1998)
Http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel.htm.
Wilhelm.M, Ritz B “Residential Proximity to Traffic and Adverse Outcome”
Human Health Perspect 2003, Feb.111(2)
Mauderly JL “Diesel Exhaust” Environmental Toxicants: Human Exposure and its
Health Effects ed. N.Y. 1992.

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