A Survey on Driver’s Health Impact of Pollutant Gaseous Emissions of an Old Agricultural Tractor

In addition to numerous other human activities, the agricultural sector plays a pivotal role in the generation of pollutants contributing to global warming and climate change. Beyond the resultant environmental damage, gaseous emissions emanating from diesel engines pose a potential occupational risk for operators. Occupational health studies indicate that prolonged exposure to gaseous pollutants, particularly those generated by internal combustion engines such as diesel engines, may be linked to the development of respiratory ailments, including asthma, rhinitis, and lung diseases. To mitigate these adverse effects, a meticulous analysis of the quantity of gaseous emissions produced by self-propelled agricultural machinery during diverse field operations becomes imperative. The findings, juxtaposed with existing literature data on professional exposure to prevalent air pollutants, serve to carry out risk assessment. Furthermore, these outcomes contribute to the promotion of initiatives aimed at diminishing exposure duration and conditions, while concurrently optimizing the operational efficiency of the machinery. This paper presents an assessment of gaseous pollutant emissions from a Fiat 70–90 tractor, a venerable model still extensively utilized in Italy, under simulated typical working conditions. In comparison to the limits set by Stage and Tier standards, aimed to reduce pollutant emissions in new tractor models, the examined tractor displayed significantly heightened levels of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, unexpectedly, the levels of particulate matter emissions remained within acceptable limits.