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01-28-2007, 09:06 PM
Campaign To Clean Up Dirty Diesel
What’s New
Diesel pollution is making us sick. Studies show that diesel pollution contains more than 40 “air toxics” including carcinogens and fine particulate matter. When inhaled, these air toxics have been known to trigger asthma and heart attacks. There is also evidence that diesel pollution causes cancer and respiratory diseases. That is why MASSPIRG has launched the Campaign To Clean Up Dirty Diesel. We’re starting to work in some of the most severely impacted communities – Cambridge, Belmont, and Medford.
How Can You Help
Please e-mail Secretary Golledge of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and ask him to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce diesel emissions from by 75% by the year 2020.
Brief Summary
Currently, there are 450 premature deaths, almost 10,000 asthma attacks, 13,000 respiratory symptoms in children, and 60,000 lost work days due to diesel pollution alone each year in Massachusetts.The Boston Metro area is in the 97th percentile for health risks due to diesel pollution, and the average lifetime diesel soot cancer risk for a resident of the Boston-Cambridge area is a 563 times EPA’s acceptable risk level.
MASSPIRG is currently working to reduce diesel pollution by 75% by the year 2010. While working with ACE, Environment Northeast, and Clean Water Action we plan to implement standards that will require more environmentally friendly fuels, less idling, and retrofitting or renewing of old diesel engines.
What’s Been Done, What’s Left to Do
The EPA has taken some action involving diesel pollution across the US. They have decided that all diesel on-road vehicles built after 2006 and all non-road vehicles built after 2007 are required to emit 90% less diesel soot or particulate matter (PM). This is important progress, but studies show that the median lifetime of an on-road diesel engine is 29 years. Therefore, many older engines will not be replaced with newer, cleaner models until 25 years from now or even longer.
Older diesel engines pollute at 10 times the rate of modern engines. The good news is, there are efficient and affordable methods of cleaning up older diesel engines.
Alternative Fuels: The use of alternative fuels will lower emissions by up to 20% for only 5-25 cents per gallon.
More Effective pollution control devices. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) will lower emissions by 85-95% and Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs) lower emissions 20-30%.
Other types of filters and fuel are also available
Because of the simplicity of retrofitting older diesel vehicles and the significant health risks caused by the vehicles, MASSPIRG has taken on the Campaign To Clean Up Dirty Diesel
Diesel Pollution Makes Us Sick
Each year diesel pollution in Massachusetts
is responsible for more than:
* 450 premature deaths
* 700 non-fatal heart attacks
* 9,900 asthma attacks
* 13,000 respiratory symptoms in children
* 60,000 work loss days
Learn more at: www.env-ne.org/Diesel%20Emissions.htm
Oue Communities Are At Risk
The Boston area has the third highest risk from diesel pollution in the country. Massachusetts has the highest health risk from diesel soot in New England.
Diesel Pollution Has Us Surrounded
The major sources of diesel pollution are right near our homes and businesses: school buses, transit buses, construction and industrial equipment, trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels.
Affordable Solutions Are Available Today
Pollution control equipment and cleaner fuels can reduce deadly fine particle pollution by up to 90%. Massachusetts should establish aggressive programs to dramatically reduce pollution from existing diesel engines. This can include:
* Phasing out old school buses and eliminating dangerous crank case emissions from all school district fleets;
* Requiring state construction contractors to use emission catalysts and clean fuel;
* Cleaning up garbage trucks and waste haulers;
* Enforcing anti-idling laws and emission inspections; and
* Establishing a dedicated fund to pay for pollution reductions.
Your Help Is Needed To Make Our Communities Healthy!
Get involved in the campaign to clean up dirty diesel! We are working to raise awareness in your community, build support among city and state policymakers, and pass legislation cleaning up the diesel fleet. Contact us at: www.masspirg.org or (617) 292-4800.
What’s New
Diesel pollution is making us sick. Studies show that diesel pollution contains more than 40 “air toxics” including carcinogens and fine particulate matter. When inhaled, these air toxics have been known to trigger asthma and heart attacks. There is also evidence that diesel pollution causes cancer and respiratory diseases. That is why MASSPIRG has launched the Campaign To Clean Up Dirty Diesel. We’re starting to work in some of the most severely impacted communities – Cambridge, Belmont, and Medford.
How Can You Help
Please e-mail Secretary Golledge of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and ask him to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce diesel emissions from by 75% by the year 2020.
Brief Summary
Currently, there are 450 premature deaths, almost 10,000 asthma attacks, 13,000 respiratory symptoms in children, and 60,000 lost work days due to diesel pollution alone each year in Massachusetts.The Boston Metro area is in the 97th percentile for health risks due to diesel pollution, and the average lifetime diesel soot cancer risk for a resident of the Boston-Cambridge area is a 563 times EPA’s acceptable risk level.
MASSPIRG is currently working to reduce diesel pollution by 75% by the year 2010. While working with ACE, Environment Northeast, and Clean Water Action we plan to implement standards that will require more environmentally friendly fuels, less idling, and retrofitting or renewing of old diesel engines.
What’s Been Done, What’s Left to Do
The EPA has taken some action involving diesel pollution across the US. They have decided that all diesel on-road vehicles built after 2006 and all non-road vehicles built after 2007 are required to emit 90% less diesel soot or particulate matter (PM). This is important progress, but studies show that the median lifetime of an on-road diesel engine is 29 years. Therefore, many older engines will not be replaced with newer, cleaner models until 25 years from now or even longer.
Older diesel engines pollute at 10 times the rate of modern engines. The good news is, there are efficient and affordable methods of cleaning up older diesel engines.
Alternative Fuels: The use of alternative fuels will lower emissions by up to 20% for only 5-25 cents per gallon.
More Effective pollution control devices. Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) will lower emissions by 85-95% and Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs) lower emissions 20-30%.
Other types of filters and fuel are also available
Because of the simplicity of retrofitting older diesel vehicles and the significant health risks caused by the vehicles, MASSPIRG has taken on the Campaign To Clean Up Dirty Diesel
Diesel Pollution Makes Us Sick
Each year diesel pollution in Massachusetts
is responsible for more than:
* 450 premature deaths
* 700 non-fatal heart attacks
* 9,900 asthma attacks
* 13,000 respiratory symptoms in children
* 60,000 work loss days
Learn more at: www.env-ne.org/Diesel%20Emissions.htm
Oue Communities Are At Risk
The Boston area has the third highest risk from diesel pollution in the country. Massachusetts has the highest health risk from diesel soot in New England.
Diesel Pollution Has Us Surrounded
The major sources of diesel pollution are right near our homes and businesses: school buses, transit buses, construction and industrial equipment, trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels.
Affordable Solutions Are Available Today
Pollution control equipment and cleaner fuels can reduce deadly fine particle pollution by up to 90%. Massachusetts should establish aggressive programs to dramatically reduce pollution from existing diesel engines. This can include:
* Phasing out old school buses and eliminating dangerous crank case emissions from all school district fleets;
* Requiring state construction contractors to use emission catalysts and clean fuel;
* Cleaning up garbage trucks and waste haulers;
* Enforcing anti-idling laws and emission inspections; and
* Establishing a dedicated fund to pay for pollution reductions.
Your Help Is Needed To Make Our Communities Healthy!
Get involved in the campaign to clean up dirty diesel! We are working to raise awareness in your community, build support among city and state policymakers, and pass legislation cleaning up the diesel fleet. Contact us at: www.masspirg.org or (617) 292-4800.