Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES): Lifetime Cancer and Non-Cancer Assessment in Rats Exposed to New-Technology Diesel Exhaust

Part 1. Assessment of Carcinogenicity and Biologic Responses in Rats After Lifetime Inhalation of New-Technology Diesel Exhaust in the ACES Bioassay. McDonald JD, Doyle-Eisele M, Seagrave J, Gigliotti A, Chow J, Zielinska B, Mauderly JL, Seilkop S, Miller RA.

Part 2. Assessment of Micronucleus Formation in Rats After Chronic Exposure to New-Technology Diesel Exhaust in the ACES Bioassay. Bemis, JC, Torous DK, Dertinger SD.

Part 3. Assessment of Genotoxicity and Oxidative Damage in Rats After Chronic Exposure to New-Technology Diesel Exhaust in the ACES Bioassay. Hallberg LM, Ward JB, Hernandez C, Ameredes BT, Wickliffe JK.

Part 4. Assessment of Plasma Markers and Cardiovascular Responses in Rats After Chronic Exposure to New-Technology Diesel Exhaust in the ACES Bioassay. Conklin DJ and Kong M.

This report describes four studies conducted as a single phase (Phase 3B) of HEI's Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) program, which was designed to evaluate the emissions and health changes resulting from substantially improved diesel engines required under the U.S. EPA 2007–2010 Heavy Duty Diesel Rule. These studies were conducted by Drs. Jacob D. McDonald of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jeffrey C. Bemis of Litron Laboratories, Rochester, New York, Lance M. Hallberg of the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, and Daniel J. Conklin, University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Long-term exposure of rats to emissions from older diesel engines has been shown to result in lung tumors. The Phase 3B studies are the first to evaluate the health effects of exhaust from new-technology diesel engines meeting the stringent 2007 Heavy Duty Diesel standards, which reduce emissions of fine particles and many other pollutants by more than 90% as compared with levels emitted by older engines.

See also the ACES Executive Summary