Older school buses pose toxic threat to children
Thursday May 8, 2008
Millvale - Pulling rusty old school buses off the road is a blessing in disguise as these same buses expose Island children to dangerous levels of toxic diesel fumes while they ride them said the Green Party of PEI.
"Many studies have found that diesel exhaust can concentrate inside school buses, leading to high exposures of cancer-causing chemicals for children who ride buses, especially older buses," said Green Party leader Sharon Labchuk. "Diesel exhaust may cause a wide range of health problems including lung cancer and respiratory problems, as well as trigger asthma attacks and worsen allergy symptoms."
Children are more susceptible than adults because their respiratory systems are still developing and they have a faster breathing rate. Diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes and lungs and cause light-headedness, headache, weakness, coughing, nausea, loss of appetite, poor coordination, and difficulty concentrating.
The US government has established the Clean School Bus USA Program to reduce school bus idling, retrofit existing buses, and replace old buses with new, cleaner buses. Health Canada strongly recommends that retrofitting of school buses be given high priority, and Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, in a 2006 report, recommended government act to reduce childhood exposure to diesel exhaust in school buses.
"The Green Party flagged this public health issue during the last provincial election. We're disappointed government has not taken action to protect children form a preventable source of toxic air pollution," said Labchuk. "All buses built before 1994 should be removed from service immediately as they are the most polluting and cannot be easily modified to protect children. Fortunately, these are the same buses that have been pulled from service because they're rusty."
The Green Party would retrofit all other school buses to reduce toxic exhaust exposure, gradually replace 1994-2003 model buses, and establish a Healthy School Bus program with the goal of reducing childhood exposure to diesel exhaust in school buses. In the short term, government should advise students and parents on how to reduce exposure, including discouraging children from sitting in the back of buses where pollution levels are highest and keeping windows open.
Contact: Sharon Labchuk 902-621-0719 or 902-940-1262
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