Health Data and Links
Over 98% of the school buses in the U.S. are diesel.
CARB study has found significantly higher concentrations of pollutants on school buses than general ambient conditions and roadside conditions. Causes include:
Exhaust entering from bus’s own engine;
Closed windows doubled pollutant concentrations;
Riding behind other diesel vehicles increased concentrations and
Idling.
Diesel contains 41 chemicals identified by the State of California as toxic air contaminants.
Protecting Children from Air Pollution
In 2007, Mothers & Others for Clean Air united a group of air quality, public health and medical experts to update public health guidelines that outline appropriate levels of outdoor activity on smog alert days. This document informed the development of guidance documents for Georgia schools and Georgia families regarding outdoor activity when air quality is poor.
California Air Resources Board
Characterizing The Range of Children’s Pollutant Exposure During School Bus Commutes
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/schoolbus/schoolbus.htm
Environment and Human Health
Children’s Exposure to Diesel Exhaust on School Buses
http://www.ehhi.org/reports/diesel/
Southern Alliance For Clean Energy
A Safer Ride To School: How to Clean Up School Buses and Protect Our Children’s Health
Union of Concerned Scientist
Rolling Smokestacks: Cleaning Up America’s Trucks and Buses
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/vehicle_impacts/diesel/rolling-smokestacks-cleaning.html
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