A transportation sector dependent on burning petroleum for fuel is a transportation sector contributing to vast amounts of pollution in the air we breathe. This pollution is made up of harmful ozone (smog) and particle pollution (soot). Ozone is an invisible gas that is formed by a reaction of sunlight and vapors emitted when fuel is burned by cars and trucks, factories and other sources. Ozone generally is highest in the summer months.
Diesel exhaust is a leading source of particle pollution in our air, one of the most dangerous outdoor air pollutants. Particle pollution is made up of diesel exhaust, ash, soot, chemicals, metals, and aerosols.
Particle pollution can be deadly. Breathing particle pollution year-round can shorten life by one to three years. Particle pollution is also related to increased risk of heart attack, cancer, and premature births.
According to the Clean Air Task Force, 21,000 people die prematurely each year due to particle pollution from diesel vehicles. This includes almost 3,000 early deaths from lung cancer. Nationally, diesel exhaust poses a cancer risk that is 7.5 times higher than the combined total cancer risk from all other air toxins.
Children and seniors are especially susceptible to air pollution. Compared to adults, children have more lung surface per body weight and inhale more air pound-for-pound. Children tend to be more active than adults as well and breathe more rapidly. Studies have also shown that the heart rhythms of seniors are affected by the level of particle pollution in the air, and their cardiovascular health can be compromised as a result.
By advocating the use of cleaner, non-petroleum fuels or the use of advanced technologies such as retrofits (which can filter out over 90% of fine particles from diesel exhaust), we can improve the air we breathe and our health.
