Alaska Native Village Air Quality Fart Sheet Series
                         Diesel  Fuel Use
 EPA 910-F-10-004    August 2010 United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10
Why care about diesel exhaust?
Diesel exhaust contains air pollutants such as hydrocarbons,
carbon monoxide, air toxics and fine particles. Diesel combustion
also creates carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. Reducing
the use of diesel engines and exposure to the exhaust has a number
of benefits to health and the environment in rural Alaska tribal
communities.

What are the health effects of exposure
to diesel exhaust?
Air pollution from diesel engines, especially fine particles, can lead
to serious health problems for adults. Children and elders are at
even greater risk.
Children are especially at risk from diesel emissions because their
lungs are still developing and their faster breathing rate increases
the amount of exhaust they inhale. Exposure to diesel exhaust
has been linked with an increased risk of premature death, more
hospital admissions for heart and lung disease and aggravation of
health conditions such as asthma.

What are sources of diesel pollution  in
Alaska  Native Villages?
Power generators, trucks, cruise ships, tug boats, fishing boats,
home heating devices and heavy equipment are the main sources
of diesel emissions in Alaska Native Villages.

How can diesel pollution  be reduced?
Reduce idling
Encourage drivers not to idle their vehicle, particularly outside
homes, schools, and other public buildings.
Use engine pre-heating devices (for example, engine block heat-
ers and fuel-fired heaters). These devices reduce the need to idle
diesel powered vehicles in cold weather.

Increase engine efficiency
Increase the efficiency of diesel engines to help reduce emissions
and save fuel costs.  A simple way to increase engine efficiency is
to ensure proper maintenance.
For example, simply maintaining proper tire pressure will use less
fuel and generate lower diesel emissions from trucks.
    Tips for diesel
       fuel use
  Prevent/reduce idling near
  schools and homes.
  Maintain equipment to
  reduce emissions and
  fuel use.
  Replace old engines with
  ones of higher efficiency.
 Retrofitting can reduce emissions
    from engines like these.


    Other ANV Air
     Fact Sheets
• Indoor Air

• Road Dust

• Solid Waste Burning

• Wood Smoke

  For these fact sheets and
  related videos, visit:
  www.epa.gov/regionlO/
  tribal/air/alaska. html

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Increase engine efficiency
                                     Continued
Replace old equipment
Update equipment with modern engines and con-
trols, such as fuel injection, turbo charging and air/
fuel control, as these emit significantly less pol-
lution than older generation engines.  Similarly,
modern furnaces and boilers emit less pollution
than older units.

Retrofit diesel engines
Retrofitting diesel engines with after-treatment
devices, like diesel oxidation catalysts or diesel
particulate filters can significantly reduce diesel
emissions. In some cases diesel engines can also
be retrofitted with modern equipment  (air/fuel
controllers, turbochargers, high efficiency burners)
which will also reduce emissions.

Use cleaner fuel.
Use cleaner fuels, such as ultra low sulfur diesel
(ULSD). This fuel will greatly reduce  sulfur emis-
sions and particulate matter.  Use of ULSD by
on and off road vehicles and equipment is required
nearly everywhere in Alaska as of October 1,2010.
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      Maintained engines use less fuel and pollute less.
        Region 10 Contacts:
         Wayne Elson, (206) 553-1463
            elson.wayne@epa.gov
  EPA Region 10 main number: (800) 424-4372
What are other ways to reduce
exposure to diesel exhaust?
Avoid breathing any diesel fumes. Exhaust from
stationary generators, furnaces and boilers should
be directed away from occupied structures. The ex-
haust stacks of stationary diesel equipment should
also be elevated above the roofline of nearby
structures. Ensuring that diesel generators and
equipment are kept in the best operating condition
will greatly reduce air pollution and also lead to
increased fuel efficiency.
If a community is planning a new power genera-
tion facility, in addition to considering permitting
and other regulatory requirements, it is important
to consider factors during construction and siting,
such as the height of the stack, the location of the
stack and the direction of prevailing winds with
respect to where the majority of the community
lives and works.

What  partners  are available?
You can contact the West Coast Collaborative (a
public-private partnership to reduce diesel emis-
sions) to learn more. The Collaborative provides
resources and information about funding opportu-
nities from EPA and other funding sources.
EPA has funds that can be used for limiting the
impacts for diesel fuel use, including anti-idling
campaigns, equipment retrofits and replacement by
EPA-verified technologies or certified engines.
See www.westcoastdiesel.org
                           Learn more on  the web
  Particulate emissions from diesel-fueled
  engines as a toxic air contaminant
  www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/dieseltac/dieseltac.htm
  National Library of Medicine "ToxTown"
  http://go.usa.gov/3Dd
Alaska Division of Air Quality
www.dec.state.ak.us/AIR/

Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)
www.dec.state.ak.us/air/anpms/ulsd/ulsdretro.htm

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