A recent study conducted in West Contra Costa County, Deluged by Diesel, has determined that homes close to freeways and industry in the area receive far more diesel soot and other contaminants than homes in less industrial parts of the county. The study was conducted by the Pacific Institute in partnership with the Contra Costa Health Services Department and the West County Asthma Coalition, Neighborhood House of North Richmond, West County Toxics Coalition, and the Community Health Initiative. It included testing for diesel particulates in indoor air and an analysis of diesel emission sources in the vicinity of the tested homes. Data showed that particulate levels in the West County homes were highest on weekdays, while the control home had little variation during the week, indicating that truck traffic was a major factor in the pollution. (The full report is online at http://www.pacinst.org/reports/west_county_diesel.)
Health impacts of air pollution are illustrated by a Southern California study which indicates that children in the most polluted areas suffer from diminished lung capacity. The University of Southern California study has been following over 1700 children in 12 communities for over ten years, and will continue to monitor them until they are in their early 20s. Scientists suggest that their results may be explained by the constant irritation of pollution on sensitive lung areas, and they also suspect that some pollutants may inhibit growth of the tiny air sacs, alveoli, that are essential to lung function.
More information is available from the USC News Service office, http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/8212.html.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District approved its Toxics New Source Review program in June (see February/March 2004 issue). In July, the district approved an innovative rule for controlling refinery flares (see April/May 2005 issue).