IDLING HURTS HEALTH – ESPECIALLY PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS’ HEALTH!

July 9, 2010

By cleanairnetwork

Air pollution impacts drivers’ health

Long-term health impacts on drivers

1. Idling trucks versus trucks in transit emit far higher levels of pollutants per mile.

The California Air Resources Board found that the per mile emission rate of organic carbon and elemental carbon from a heavy duty diesel truck in congested traffic is 8.1 times higher and 1.9 times higher, respectively, than the same truck in transit. Drivers sitting in the cross-border queues between China and Hong Kong are subject to toxic levels of diesel fumes. Similarly, drivers sitting in traffic are subject to emissions build-up because of a lack of air flow, increasing their risk of heart attack, stroke, asthma, etc.

Obviously, drivers sitting in cross-border queues and other similar situations are subject to very high levels of pollutants.

2. Diesel truck drivers, diesel mechanics, and others constantly and closely exposed to diesel exhaust are up to 50% more likely to develop lung cancer.

3. Diesel particulate matter accumulates to dangerous levels inside the cabs of idling trucks.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, drivers who idle for hours in long lines are sitting in truck cabs with diesel PM levels 2,000 times greater than those considered acceptable by U.S. state and federal environmental protection agencies.

4. Beijing taxi drivers more likely to suffer heart attacks because of exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5)

A study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) evaluated the relationship between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and heart rate variability (HRV) in taxi drivers in Beijing, China before, during and after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Because of the Olympics, China had put great effort in air cleanup activity.

The results of the study showed that increases in PM2.5 pollution levels were associated with decreases in HRV in young and healthy taxi drivers. Decreased HRV increases risk for adverse cardiac events such as heart attacks.

Short-term effects of air pollution

Idling engines can be a significant component of roadside emissions. Public health research shows that roadside pollution is dangerous to health in the following ways:

1. Kaoshiung Medical University, Taiwan: Exposure to particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide increases stroke risk by 54%.

2. “The American Heart Association says there is enough evidence to conclude that air pollution can trigger heart attacks and other heart problems.”

3. Two hours exposure to high roadside pollution increases heart rate.

4. Exposure to PM leads to increased blood clotting activity and changes in heart rhythm

5. Pollution ups blood clot risk

Health effects of pollution combined with heat

1. Maximum daily temperature and concentrations of NO2 were the most significant risk factors for heat stroke in a study conducted in Tokyo in 1999.

2. Referring to the Kaohshiung study above, which demonstrated a link between PM, NO2 and strokes, the researchers stated that temperatures over 20˚C increase the risk of stroke further.

3. Ozone may increase risk of cardiovascular death when temperatures high.