Diesel Exhaust Kills Thousands Across Region Each Year

Diesel Exhaust Kills Thousands Across Region Each Year, Yet Solutions Are Close at Hand Using EPA Methodology, New Study Ties Soot Emissions to Mortality

Pittsburgh (February 22, 2005) – More than 20,000 Americans die prematurely each year from breathing deadly diesel fumes, according to a new landmark study on diesel pollution and health impacts in the U.S. Yet many of these deaths could be easily prevented by applying existing technology to cut diesel emissions by 90% or more. The study finds that here in Pittsburgh, diesel exhaust cuts short the lives of 237 people, causes 340 heart attacks, and 3,399 asthma attacks each year. The report and its website http://www.catf.us/goto/GASPdieselhealth , made public today by Group Against Smog and Pollution (GASP), provide metro, county and state-specific data on the health impacts from diesel pollution.

Diesel and Health in America: The Lingering Threat, was researched and developed using EPA’s own scientific methodology over the past year by the non-profit Clean Air Task Force. The report notes that the diesel death toll will continue unless federal and state authorities take aggressive action to clean up existing sources of diesel soot — including buses, trucks, ships, construction and farm equipment.

“Diesel exhaust may be the single most severe air pollution threat to people’s health here in Pittsburgh,” stated Rachel Filippini, Executive Director of Group Against Smog and Pollution. “We’re all familiar with diesel’s sooty exhaust smell,” Filippini continued. “In addition, scores of medical studies show that microscopic particles and toxins in diesel exhaust are associated with cardio-vascular death, lung cancer, and trigger asthma attacks — especially in children, the elderly and people who live and work near buses, trucks and other diesel equipment.”

Diesel exhaust in Allegheny County poses a risk of cancer that is 534 times higher than EPA’s acceptable risk level. Details of the cancer and non-cancer risks, as well as a citizen guide to action are posted on the Diesel and Health website, at http://www.catf.us/goto/GASPdieselhealth .

“Diesel exhaust is a significant contributor to the adverse health effects of air pollution in Allegheny County,” added Bernard Goldstein, M.D., Dean of the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

“Fortunately, we don’t have to wait two or three decades for the current crop of dirty diesel equipment to be retired,” said Filippini. “Affordable solutions exist today that can reduce diesel engine emissions by 90 percent or more.”

GASP and the Clean Air Task Force called on the Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Council and the PA Department of Environmental Protection to set concrete benchmarks and goals for reducing diesel emissions. As part of greater reductions, GASP is seeking immediate support for the Allegheny County Adopt-a-school-bus Program, and other regional retrofitting projects, as well as adopting and enforcing anti-idling regulations.

While supportive of federal efforts that begin to address the problem, the Diesel and Health in America report notes that EPA’s recently-issued emissions standards for new diesel engines will take over 25 years to become fully effective. Those standards do not apply to any of the 13 million diesel vehicles on the road today. Moreover, the report notes, funding will be needed to support city and state efforts to retrofit existing diesels with emissions controls, particularly in light of recent federal health standards to control fine particles.

“Certainly, EPA must stay the course on its long-term program to reduce emissions from new engines,” said Conrad Schneider, Clean Air Task Force’s Advocacy Director and co-author of the report. “In the meantime, we must address emissions from the dirty engines on the road today. Given diesel’s toll in lives and livelihoods, and the availability of affordable, off-the-shelf solutions, a quarter century delay for clean-up simply is not acceptable.”

GASP is a non-profit citizens’ group in southwestern Pennsylvania working for a healthy, sustainable environment. Founded in 1969, GASP has been a diligent watchdog, educator, litigator, and policy-maker on many environmental issues, with a focus on air quality in the Pittsburgh region.

Founded in 1996, the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) (www.catf.us) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring clean air and healthy environments through scientific research, public education, and legal advocacy. CATF’s staff includes scientists, engineers, economists, MBAs and lawyers. The organization works closely with more than 40 state, local, regional and national groups to educate the public, media, industry and public decision makers on the science and economics of clean air policies through fact-based and locally appropriate advocacy.

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