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Improving Outdoor Air Quality Around Schools. Christine Slocum, MPH student Walden University PUBH 6165 Instructor: Robert Marino Fall 2010. Learning Outcomes. Define components of outdoor air pollution near schools Explain the impact of poor air quality
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Improving Outdoor Air Quality Around Schools Christine Slocum, MPH student Walden University PUBH 6165 Instructor: Robert Marino Fall 2010
Learning Outcomes • Define components of outdoor air pollution near schools • Explain the impact of poor air quality • Compare the current programs available • Explain what else can be done to improve the air quality around our schools
Components of Air Pollution • Carbon Monoxide • Lead • Nitrogen Oxide • Ozone • Particulate Matter Components of Air Pollution. Retrieved October 15, 2010, from http://airqualityeffects.uckac/old_kids_pages_Feb_3_2004/components_of_air_pollution.htm
Sources of Air Pollution • Motor vehicles • Responsible for half of all emissions released • Can be fueled by gasoline, diesel, or alternative fuels (2010, January 29). Sources of Pollutants in the Ambient Air- Mobile Sources. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/apti/course422/ap3a.html
Why Should We Be Concerned? • School buses drive more than 4 billion miles each year • 24 million American children ride school buses daily • On average these children spend an hour and a half each day on the school bus (2008, March 11). Clean School Bus USA. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/index.htm
Why Should We Be Concerned? • Diesel exhaust • Can cause lung damage and respiratory problems • Exacerbate asthma and existing allergies • Especially harmful to children because they breathe 50% more air per pound of body weight • Long term exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer (2008, March 11). Clean School Bus USA. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/index.htm
Health Effects of Poor Air Quality • Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat • Lightheadedness • Heartburn • Headache • Weakness, numbness and tingling of extremities • Chest tightness • Wheezing • Vomiting Occupational Safety, & Health Bureau Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Diesel Exhaust Health Hazards. Retrieved October 15, 2010, from erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/dieselexhaust.pdf
Existing Programs • Clean School Bus USA • The Clean Air Clean Air Schools Program
Clean School Bus USA • 3 Ways to reduce public school bus emissions • Anti-idling strategies • Engine retrofit and clean fuels • Bus replacement • (2008, March 11). Clean School Bus USA. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanscoolbus/index.htm
Clean School Bus USAAnti-idling Strategies • Turn off engine as soon as possible after arriving at loading or unloading areas • Bus should not be restarted until it is ready to depart • Limit early morning warm up to less than 5 minutes • (2008, March 11). Clean School Bus USA. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanscoolbus/index.htm
Clean School Bus USARetrofit and CleanFuel Strategies • Pollution Control Devices • Diesel Oxidation Catalysts- uses chemical process to break down exhaust pollutants into less harmful components • Diesel Particulate Matter Filters-ceramic devices that collect particulate matter • (2007, November 21). Clean School Bus USA Retrofit. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/retrofit.htm#cleaner
Clean School Bus USARetrofit and CleanFuel Strategies • Cleaner Fuels • Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD)- improves performance of particulate matter filter • Biodiesel- reduces particulate matter, carbon monoxide • Emulsified Diesel- reduces particulate matter and smog-causing Nitrogen oxide (NOx) • (2007, November 21). Clean School Bus USA Retrofit. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/retrofit.htm#cleaner
Clean School Bus USABus Replacement • Older buses are not equipped with today’s pollution control or safety features • There are over 75,000 pre 1990 buses still on the road that carry 3 million children to school (2010, June 23). Clean School Bus USA Replacing Old School Buses. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/replacement.htm
The Clean Air Clean Schools Program • 3 components of program • No idling program • Ride the bus! For clean air • Pool to school Make Your Child's School a Clean Air School. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Take_Action/Make-Your-Child-s-School-a-Clean-Air-School
The Clean Air Clean Schools Program • No Idling Program • Encourages bus drivers and parent drivers to turn off engines when dropping off or waiting for students • Make Your Child's School a Clean Air School. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Take_Action/Make-Your-Child-s-School-a-Clean-Air-School
The Clean Air Clean Schools Program • Ride the bus! For clean air • Designed to get more student on buses and out of cars that contribute to traffic around school ground • Make Your Child's School a Clean Air School. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Take_Action/Make-Your-Child-s-School-a-Clean-Air-School
The Clean Air Clean Schools Program • Pool to school • Promote car pooling to reduce traffic and reduce pollution • Make Your Child's School a Clean Air School. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Take_Action/Make-Your-Child-s-School-a-Clean-Air-School
What Can We Do In Our School District? • Utilize the EPA, state, and local agencies to monitor outdoor air around schools for toxic air pollutants • Establish partnerships with school officials, bus drivers, parents, and students to improve the air quality around our schools
What Can We Do In Our School District? • Establish idle reduction policies • Minimize time children spend outside when buses are arriving/departing • If possible shorten commute times • Deploy cleanest buses on longest routes • Limit idling of delivery vehicles on school grounds • Provide space inside school where drivers can wait on cold days • Develop educational programs for students of all ages about air pollution
References • (2007, November 21). Clean School Bus USA Retrofit. Retrieved October 24, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/retrofit.htm#cleaner • (2008, March 11). Clean School Bus USA. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/index.htm • (2010, January 29). Sources of Pollutants in the Ambient Air- Mobile Sources. Retrieved October 10, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/apti/course422/ap3a.html • (2010, June 23). Clean School Bus USA Replacing Old School Buses. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/replacement.htm • Components of Air Pollution. Retrieved October 15, 2010, from http://airqualityeffects.uckac/old_kids_pages_Feb_3_2004/components_of_air_pollution.htm • Make Your Child's School a Clean Air School. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Take_Action/Make-Your-Child-s-School-a-Clean-Air-School • Occupational Safety, & Health Bureau Montana Department of Labor & Industry. Diesel Exhaust Health Hazards. Retrieved October 15, 2010, from erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/dieselexhaust.pdf
Sources for Further Information • http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/index.htm • http://www.cleanaircampaign.org/Take-Action/Make-Your-Child-s-School-a-Clean-Air-School