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You SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
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AIR POLLUTION
AND KIDS
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_ AND
IDLING
Diesel exhaust ranks
among the air pollutants
that EPA believes pose
the greatest health risks.
Children have a faster
breathing rate than adults.
More than 1.7 million
children in New England
ride a bus to and from
school every day.
ARC
Asthma Regional Council
of New England
Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management
oEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
For more information:
Visit www.epa.gov/ne/
eco/diesel/,orcallthe
EPA Air Quality Hotline at
1-800-821-1237
L/iesel exhaust from idling school buses can accumulate
on and around the bus and pose a health risk, particularly
to children. When buses idle in the school yard, the
exhaust also can pollute the air inside the school
building and pose a health risk to children throughout
the day. Exposure to diesel exhaust can cause lung
damage and respiratory problems. Diesel exhaust can
also exacerbate asthma and existing allergies, and
long-term exposure to diesel exhaust can increase the
risk of lung cancer. However, there are some simple steps that
schools can take to reduce idling time and air pollution.
How ARE CHILDREN AFFECTED?
More than 1.7 million children in New England ride a bus to
and from school every day. While school buses are one of the
safest, most effective ways to transport children to and from
school, like all diesel vehicles, they emit pollution that is
dangerous to breathe. Air pollution from diesel vehicles has
health implications for everyone, but children are more
susceptible to this pollution than healthy adults because their
respiratory systems are not fully developed, and they have a
faster breathing rate. Diesel exhaust contains significant levels
of small particles, known as fine particulate matter. Exposure to
particulate matter, especially fine particles, is associated with
increased frequency of childhood illnesses.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO
REDUCE DIESEL POLLUTION
Although every school district is unique, there are a number of
steps that schools can take to reduce the health risks associated
with exposure to diesel exhaust. Here are some actions school
districts should consider:
ESTABLISH IDLING GUIDELINES
• When school bus drivers arrive at loading or unloading
areas to drop off or pick up passengers, they should turn
off their buses as soon as possible to eliminate idling time
and reduce harmful emissions. The school bus should not be
restarted until it is ready to depart.
* If buses need the engine to run the flashing lights, consider
changing the circuit configurations so that the flashing
lights can be powered by the battery without the engine
running.
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TEPS YOU
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• At school bus depots, limit the idling time during early morning warm-up to
what is recommended by the manufacturer (generally 3 to 5 minutes). In colder
climates, block heaters, which plug into electrical outlets, can help warm the
engine to avoid starting difficulties and shorten warm-up time.
• In the winter, provide a space inside the school where bus drivers who arrive
early can wait
• Follow anti-idling laws and guidelines in your state. Currently, three New England
states have anti-idling laws: Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
• Ensure school buses are regularly maintained.
• Reinforce smart driving practices such as following at least 3 car lengths behind any
vehicle with visible exhaust or a noticeable odor.
WORK CLOSELY WITH Bus COMPANIES AND Bus DRIVERS
TO IMPLEMENT THE GUIDELINES
• Make sure both the bus company and the bus drivers understand the importance
of the new guidelines.
• Highlight the economic benefit of reduced fuel consumption as a result of less
idling. A school bus burns approximately a half gallon of diesel fuel foreach
hour it idles. Thus, if a company operates 50 buses and each bus reduces its
idling time by 30 minutes per day, at $1 per gallon of diesel fuel, the
company would save $2,250 per school year in fuel costs.
• Inform drivers of the potential risk to their health from breathing diesel exhaust
and the benefits of not idling.
• Establish a program to recognize drivers. For example, create buttons that drivers
who pledge to follow the guidelines can wear.
WORK CLOSELY WITH Bus COMPANIES TO RETROFIT
BUSES WITH POLLUTION CONTROLS
• Fuel buses with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel and install paniculate matter filters.
This approach can reduce emissions of paniculate matter by more than 90 percent.
• Another option is to install oxidation catalysts. This approach can reduce emissions
of particulate matter by at least 20 percent and does not require the use of ultra-low
sulfur diesel fuel.
• More information about retrofit options is available at www.epa.gov/ne/eco/diesel/
retrofits.html
WORK CLOSELY WITH Bus COMPANIES TO PURCHASE THE
CLEANEST NEW BUSES
• EPA is working to reduce diesel pollution from new heavy-duty diesel trucks
and buses by setting more stringent emission standards that will take effect
beginning in 2004. In 2007, new trucks and buses rolling off the assembly lines
will be 95 percent cleaner than today's models.
• Because some buses may meet EPA standards ahead of schedule, ask the
manufacturer before purchasing a new bus to see if you can acquire one that
meets these standards. In addition, some buses come equipped with pollution
control devices like oxidation catalysts and/or devices that minimize idling and
warm-up time.
Idling wastes fuel and
money.
A typical school bus
burns approximately one
half-gallon of diesel fuel
for each hour it idles.
Reducing idling time by
30 minutes per day, can
save $2,250 per school
year in fuel costs.
ARC
Asthma Regional Council
of New England
Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management
>>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
1 Congress Street
Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114-2023
www.epa.gov/ne/eco/diesel/
EPA Air Quality Hotline:
1-800-821-1237
EPA-901-F-04-003
June 2004
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