Diesel particulate contains a number of chemical compounds known to be carcinogenic.

The nitrous oxides, formed from diesel combustion, were so bad when we worked at Taylor back before the 74 gas crisis, from the idling engines, next to the LA River, at night when the fog rolled in, was so bad that it formed nitric acid in that mist, and would burn you skin. We had to keep our cars covered at night so it wouldn' eat the paint. And, we were breathing it.

I've known at least a dozen rails who've passed away from various cancers, some of it was probably work related, and not all from emissions. We used to switch places like John Mannsville (asbestos), and American Chem (vinyl chloride), where the employee's were wearing hazmat outfits, and we sure weren't.....

So, it's always interesting to see this kind of unscientific babble from the woefully ignorant (and insensitive?) abuot things that they clearly don't know much about.

More importantly, Tommy was a great guy, and among those of us who knew him and worked with him, we'll all miss him.