Substantial scientific evidence exists on the negative health effects of exposure to petroleum diesel exhaust. Many view biodiesel as a ‘green’, more environmentally friendly alternative fuel, especially with respect to measured reductions of particulate matter in tailpipe emissions. Tailpipe emissions data sets from heavy-duty diesel engines comparing diesel and biodiesel fuels provide important information regarding the composition and potential aggregate contribution of particulate matter and other pollutants to regional airsheds. However, exposure – defined in this instance as human contact with tailpipe emissions – is another key link in the chain between emissions and human health effects. Although numerous biodiesel emissions studies exist, biodiesel exposure studies are nearly absent from the literature. This article summarizes the known impacts of biodiesel on air quality and health effects, comparing emissions and exposure research. In light of rapidly changing engine, fuel and exhaust technologies, both emissions and exposure studies are necessary for developing a fuller understanding of the impact of biodiesel on air quality and human health.

关于接触石油柴油废气对健康的负面影响，存在大量科学证据。许多人认为生物柴油是一种“绿色”、更环保的替代燃料，尤其是在尾气排放中颗粒物的减少量方面。比较柴油和生物柴油燃料的重型柴油发动机的尾气排放数据集提供了关于颗粒物质和其他污染物对区域空气流域的成分和潜在总体贡献的重要信息。然而，暴露——在这种情况下定义为人类接触尾气排放——是排放和人类健康影响链中的另一个关键环节。尽管存在大量生物柴油排放研究，但文献中几乎没有生物柴油暴露研究。本文总结了生物柴油对空气质量和健康影响的已知影响，比较了排放和暴露研究。鉴于发动机、燃料和排气技术的快速变化，排放和暴露研究对于更全面地了解生物柴油对空气质量和人类健康的影响是必要的。