In Québec, only the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety in mines (RROHSM) currently includes an exposure value for diesel fumes that is based on the respirable combustible dust (RCD) measurement index. Due to the current analytical method's lack of specificity and sensitivity, scientists believe that the use of the elemental carbon (EC) measurement could be a more appropriate index. In order to be able to transpose the current exposure standard (expressed as RCD) and use the EC measurement, it is important to know the relationship between these two indexes and the applicability of the EC index for different environments where workers can be exposed to diesel particulate matter. This study helped to determine the pertinence of using the EC measurement as an index of exposure to diesel particulate matter; to establish standardized sampling and analytical methods for elemental carbon; and to document the work environment in two activity sectors.
