Diesel Pollution Makes Us Sick

Diesel exhaust contains respiratory irritants, cancer-causing
chemicals, more than 40 "air toxics," and fine particulate matter (PM).
Tiny particles in diesel pollution are inhaled deep in human lungs,
where they can trigger asthma and heart attacks. Moreover, diesel
exhaust is emitted at ground level - just where we breathe it in.

Annually, diesel pollution in Massachusetts is responsible for more than:

• 450 premature deaths
• 700 non-fatal heart attacks
• 9,900 asthma attacks
• 13,000 respirator symptoms in children
• 60,000 days of work lost

Diesel Pollution Has Us Surrounded

Sources of diesel health risk in Massachusetts include: school buses, transit buses, construction and industrial equipment, trucks, locomotives, and marine vessels.

Because such sources are often concentrated in urban areas, increased exposure by people who live or work in cities puts them more at risk than rural residents.

Massachusetts Communities Are At Risk

Massachusetts has the highest health risk from diesel soot in New England. Massachusetts is in the 92nd percentile for health risk—worse than Texas, West Virginia, and Alabama. The risk for getting sick from diesel pollution in Suffolk County is the third worst in the country. Small particles of soot lodge deep in our lungs, increasing asthma rates and other health problems.

In greater Boston, the lifetime cancer risk from diesel exhaust is 500 times higher than EPA's "acceptable" level.

Diesel & Climate Change

Diesel pollution also contributes to climate change by storing the sun's heat and reducing the natural reflectivity of snow, ice and clouds.

New Federal Standards Don't Fully Protect Us

In 2007, federal standards required new diesel engines to be 90% cleaner than they are today.
These new standards only apply to NEW engines, which means pre-2007 diesels with yesterday's emission standards will be on Massachusetts' roads and job-sites for years to come.

We need to act now to clean up pollution from diesel engines in use today!

Affordable Solutions Are Available Today

Emission control retrofits and cleaner fuels can reduce deadly fine particle pollution from existing vehicles by up to 90%. State policymakers, working together with advocacy groups, citizen activists, fleet owners and operators, can and should establish aggressive programs to dramatically reduce pollution from existing diesel engines. Options that are being considered:

• Phase out of old school buses and eliminate dangerous crank case emissions from all school district fleets.
• Require state construction contractors to use emission catalysts and clean fuel.
• Clean up emissions of garbage trucks and waste haulers.
• Enforce anti-idling laws and emission inspections.
• Establish a dedicated Massachusetts fund to pay for emission control retrofits.

Your Help Is Needed To Keep Our Communities Healthy!

Join the Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution and you can:

• Start a discussion in your community to raise awareness about the risks of diesel pollution and the available solutions.
• Work with your city officials to pass a resolution to clean up municipally owned or contracted diesel trucks by 2010.
• Ask state representatives about legislation to establish a Massachusetts clean diesel fund.
• Contact to DEP and ask for full enforcement of anti-idling rule and emissions inspections.