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Dump Diesel Buses and Trucks! Stop the Pollution and
Asthma!
See Also:
Read the
Biodiesel Fact Sheet!
Stop
Diesel Buses in San Francisco!
For more information,
contact:
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Diesel Fact Sheet
Did you know...
- A new United States Environmental
Protection Agency report on diesel links diesel exhaust to lung cancer
and the development of asthma.
- According to the same
US EPA report, diesel exhaust is known to cause inflammation and histopathological
changes in the lungs, impaired pulmonary function, exacerbation of
allergenic responses to known allergens and asthma-like symptoms,
and neuropsychological symptoms such as lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting,
and numbness or tingling of the extremities.
- A 1999 study by Southern
California's South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
found that diesel soot accounts for 71 percent of the cancer risk
from all toxic air contaminants.
- Diesel exhaust contains
40 chemicals that the State of California has identified as toxic
air contaminants.
- Over 30 human epidemiological
studies have found a link between diesel exhaust and lung cancer.
- Diesel exhaust contains
high levels of fine particulate pollution, which is easily inhaled
deep into the lungs and is not easily exhaled. Fine particulates stay
inside the lungs for long periods of time, corroding cells and ultimately
leading to tumor growth.
- The worst particulate
matter is less than 3.5 microns in diameter. 90 percent of particulate
matter emitted by diesel vehicles is less than 1 micron in diameter.
- The average infant in
the San Francisco Bay Area reaches the United States Environmental
Protection Agency’s Acceptable Lifetime Limit for airborne carcinogenic
exposure by the time he/she is 19 days old. Individuals living closer
to areas of high truck traffic receive much higher doses of exposure
than this Bay Area average.
- A heavy-duty truck using
diesel can create the same amount of air pollution as 150 passenger
cars
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