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Coalition for Clean Air Report Highlights Health Risks to Children from Diesel School Bus Exhaust

November 18, 1999

San Francisco, CA - The Coalition for Clean Air today released a report that charges diesel school buses with harming the health of children and the public, The report, "Failing the Grade: How Diesel School Buses Threaten Our Children's Health," also cites the availability of clean fuel buses, which are already being successfully used in several California school districts.

Tim Carmichael, executive director of the Coalition for Clean Air, declared, "The problem of diesel school buses and their threat to our children's health has been neglected for far too long. Our report documents children's greater susceptibility to the toxic Pollution of diesel school bus exhaust. Because Of their smaller size and faster breathing rate, children receive and retain a greater dose of pollution than adults. This exposure needs to be addressed and school districts must begin to phase in clean alternative fuel school buses to replace diesel."

Tim Carmichael spoke at a press conference held at Lawton Elementary School in San Francisco, where diesel school buses drop off and pick up school children each day. He was joined there by Lesley Dobalian, co-author of the report; Dr. John Balmes of the American Lung Association of California, and others.

The report also highlights the negative health effects of diesel exhaust, which has been declared a Toxic Air Contaminant (TAC) by the California Air Resources Board, Diesel exhaust is made up of more than 40 chemical substances that have each been listed as probable carcinogens or reproductive hazards. These toxins combine with diesel particulates, and are absorbed deep within the lungs.

Lesley Dobalian, who holds a Masters in Public Health from UCLA, emphasized "It is time that we protect children from the health hazards of diesel exhaust. Diesel exhaust exposure can result in health effects that range from mildly irritating to permanently damaging effects that can be life-threatening." Diesel exhaust is a respiratory irritant that can cause wheezing, difficulty in breathing, lung cancer and premature death It is also known to increase the risk for asthma attacks. Asthma represents the most common chronic childhood disease.

Lesley Dobalian, co-author of "Failing the Grade", continued, "Parents will be shocked to learn from this compelling report how harmful these diesel School buses are for their children¹s health. We must take action to bring clean school buses to our schools." The report recommends greater action by school districts, combined with increased state funding in order to move rapidly toward clean, alternative fuel buses.

ln Los Angeles, Todd Campbell, policy analyst with The Coalition for Clean Air and Co-author of the report also underscored the need for state and school district action, "Our report calls on the state to set up a dedicated fund to help school districts purchase new clean fuel buses- "Too many of our school districts simply can't afford the slightly higher cost of clean fuel buses. We believe the state can play a critical role in providing financial assistance to school districts. At the same time, it is imperative that the state Air Resources Board more strongly regulate school bus emissions, and that school districts make a commitment to buy only clean fuel buses when they buy new school buses."

In fact, the report documents the availability of clean alternative fuel buses which are already successfully used in several California school districts. Compressed natural gas buses provide the most mature technology available today, and have been used by California school districts for close to 10 years. Electric and fuel cell buses are promising technologies for the near future. According to figures provided by the South Coast Air Quality Management District an average diesel school bus in service today is 223.5 times more polluting than a new Compressed natural gas bus.

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