Recorded presentation

Ellen R. Tohn, mcp, ERT Associates & Asthma Regional Council, 5 Fields Lane, wayland, MA 017781, 508-358-7770, e.tohn@comcast.net

New England has the highest regional asthma rates in the country when compared to the national average of all remaining states. Regionally approximately 940,000 adults are suffering from asthma and one in every 8 children has been diagnosed with asthma. In response to the surge in asthma rates, regional leaders created the Asthma Regional Council (ARC). ARC is a powerful coalition of government and private organizations who have convened with the purpose of reducing the impact of asthma on children and families through collaborations of health, school, housing, education, and environmental organizations, with particular focus on the disproportionate impact of the disease on low income minority populations. This session will discuss a core ARC initiative to reduce school diesel bus emissions which are linked to asthma and other respiratory problems. ARC’s work has resulted in all six New England states pursuing school bus anti-idling programs. Projects are underway in three states (MA, CT, ME) to use improved emission reduction technologies and cleaner fuels on existing school buses. Once completed these “retrofit” projects will reduce emissions from over 1000 buses and result in a modified Maine statewide approach to collaboratively purchase cleaner buses. The lessons learned are documented in ARC’s Clean School Bus Kit materials which layout key steps school districts can pursue to reduce diesel bus emissions and include initial evaluation results from the retrofit projects.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe why diesel bus emissions are a health threat, particularly for asthma.
• 2. List 3 key actions school districts and bus companies can take to reduce emissions.
• 3. Identify key decision makers at the state and local level who have the authority to make the changes in bus technology, maintenance and fuel decisions.

Keywords: Air Quality, Asthma

Related Web page: www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Asthma Regional Council
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation