This Healthy Schools Day, let’s protect children and staff from a known cancer risk. Let’s rule out radon.
Diesel emissions are a known cause of lung cancer and are linked to asthma and other health problems. Children can be more vulnerable to harm from diesel emissions.
Children can be exposed to diesel emissions on buses, in loading zones and adjacent playgrounds, and by breathing contaminated indoor air.
There are many ways to protect kids from diesel emissions, from establishing no-idling zones to replacing older buses. Parents, educators, administrators and governments all have roles to play.
Turn the engines off while school buses are waiting in loading zones or near school grounds.
Ensure there is a gap between buses during travel and in loading zones to keep the exhaust of one bus from polluting the cabin air of another.
Help reduce the infiltration of diesel bus and other vehicle emissions into schools by ensuring that high ventilation periods do not occur during busy loading/unloading times or rush hour.
Emissions from older buses can be improved with pollution control upgrades, and new technology diesel engines offer vastly improved emissions performance. Best of all, replace old diesel vehicles with new buses powered by cleaner energy such as electricity.
