JUNE 2DD3
WHAT You SHOULD KNOW ABOUT
AIR PaLLUTION.
AND KID!
DIESEL EXHAUST AND
SCHOOL Bus IDLING
Children breathe 50 percent
more air per pound of body
weight than adults.
Diesel exhaust ranks among
the air pollutants that EPA
believes pose the greatest
public health risks.
More than 24 million
children in the United States
ride a bus to and from
school every day.
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
For more information:
Visit www.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit
~or~
www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
or call 734-214-4780
L/iesel exhaust from idling school buses can accumu-
late 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 also exacerbates asthma and existing
allergies, and long-term exposure is thought to
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?
Air pollution from diesel vehicles has health implications for
everyone, but children may be more susceptible to this
pollution because they breathe 50 percent more air per
pound of body weight than do adults. Diesel exhaust contains
small particles, known as fine particulate matter, as well as
smog-forming and toxic air pollutants. Exposure to these
pollutants is associated with increased frequency of childhood
illnesses. More than 24 million children in the United States
ride a bus to and from school every day.
RECOMMENDED ACTIONS 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.
continued D
1 printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 50% post consumer waste, using vegetable based inks
TEPS YOU
CAN TAKE TD
REDUCE
DIESEL
POLLUTION
O Direct school bus
drivers to turn off
their buses as soon
as they arrive in the
school yard.
Limit idling time of
buses during early
morning warm-up.
© Provide a space inside
the school where bus
drivers can wait.
-------
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 can help warm the engine of older vehicles to avoid starting difficulties and
shorten warm-up time. New vehicles are designed to start easily at all temperatures
without idling.
In the winter, provide a space inside the school where bus drivers who arrive early can
wait.
Follow the anti-idling laws and guidelines that many states have in place.
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
typical school bus burns approximately one-half gallon of diesel fuel for each hour it
idles. Thus, if a company operates 50 buses and each bus reduces its idling time by 30
minutes per day, at $ I 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 their efforts to reduce idling. 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 particulate matter filters. This
approach can reduce emissions of particulate matter by more than 90 percent.
• Consider retrofitting with catalyst technology if the filter/fuel option is not feasible.
• More information about retrofit options is available atwww.epa.gov/otaq/retrofit.
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, many new buses come equipped with 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.
The less school buses
idle, the more money
school districts can save.
BECOME A CLEAN SCHOOL Bus USA PARTNER
• Clean School Bus USA is a voluntary program that seeks to reduce children's exposure to
diesel exhaust. More information is available at www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus.
EPA420-F-03-021 June 2003
5 printed on 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of
50% post consumer waste, using vegetable based inks
------- |