"Diesel engine exhaust fumes are a mixture of gases, vapours, liquid aerosols and particles created by burning diesel fuels. Diesel fumes may contain over 10 times the amount of soot particles than in petrol exhaust fumes, and the mixture includes several carcinogenic substances, meaning they have the potential to cause cancer. Breathing in high quantities of diesel exhaust fumes can cause irritation in the respiratory tract within a few minutes of exposure, but prolonged exposure over many years may be more harmful. The health effects will depend on the type and quality of diesel fuel being used (for example, whether it's low sulphur), the type and age of the engine, where and how it's used and maintained, and whether a combination of different diesel-powered engines are contributing to overall exposure."

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