Diesel fumes are dangerous to the drivers
Idling Context
1. Idling drivers are exposed to much higher levels of pollutants because there is less air to ventilate emissions.
http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/diesel/pdfs/Diesel_truck_bus_CT.pdf
According to research by the US EPA, drivers sitting in traffic are exposed to much more vehicle pollution than when the vehicle is in motion since there is no airflow to ventilate emissions. Moreover, the amount of emissions builds up to toxic levels in congested traffic. See below. Therefore, drivers who idle their engines are poisoning themselves, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, asthma, and other diseases.
2. Vehicles running at low speed/idling emit more pollutants per mile than in transit
http://www.epa.gov/SmartwayLogistics/presentations/nescaum-041404.pdf
The California Air Resources Board found that the per mile emission rate of organic carbon and elemental carbon from a heavy duty diesel truck is 8.1 times higher and 1.9 times higher, respectively, when it is in congested traffic than when it is in transit. Therefore, idling trucks are much more polluting than trucks in motion. Cross-border trucks queues are therefore highly polluting AND dangerous to drivers. (N.B., it is precisely because congestion is unavoidable that we must ask the Government to enable early replacement of the oldest trucks – to protect driver health.)
3. Diesel particulate matter builds up inside truck cabs when idling or running at low speed for hours.
http://www.nrdc.org/media/2007/071204.asp
A report prepared by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports mentioned that when drivers idle for hours in long lines, the amount of diesel particulate matter found inside truck cabs can be 2,000 times greater than the level considered acceptable by state and federal environmental protection agencies in the USA.
General Context
4. Divers who work closely to diesel are more likely to develop lung cancer
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_EPA_Reports_Diesel_Linked_To_Lung_Cancer.asp
Studies show the risk of lung cancer in truck drivers, mechanics, and others constantly exposed to high levels of diesel exhaust can be up to 50% higher.
Idling engines and traffic congestion are obviously major contributors to diesel fume exposure.
5. PM from motor vehicles is more dangerous than from other sources
http://edf.org/documents/8046_ISR-CO2review-FINAL-070208.pdf
A study in the US concluded that PM from mobile sources contributed three times more to mortality than did PM from coal combustion.
Related Posts
- IDLING HURTS HEALTH – ESPECIALLY PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS’ HEALTH!
- Children exposed to diesel fumes in the womb can suffer from lethargy
- Drivers confine minister to hot taxi to drive home their point
- Clean Air Network unites with transport sector to jointly urge the Hong Kong Government to increase subsidies to retire old diesel vehicles
- New pollution traps to target ‘invisible’ fumes
