Jan 17, 2008 10:52 pm US/Eastern
Dirty Air Poses Threat To Boston Commuters
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
There's a health concern for commuters driving into Boston that has little to do with speed or road rage.
The problem is in the air.
The problem lies with diesel fumes pouring out of vehicles, and it's taking a toll on our health.
"It's getting into the bloodstream. It's causing heart attacks. It's causing premature deaths all across Massachusetts," said Danielle Connor of Clean Water Action.
The problem comes from tiny particles in the fumes that we breathe in. Dr. Bruce Hill of the Clean Air Task Rorce has measured diesel pollution on Boston roadways, including the southeast expressway.
"We found the levels were roughly four times higher in your car than in the downtown area at the same time," Hill said.
When Hill used a device that measured exhaust particles as he followed a truck in traffic, the particle levels rose dramatically.
"It's just flat unhealthy to be following this truck right now," Hill said.
Massachusett is fifth in the nation for diesel pollution. Suffolk County is the third worst county in the country.
"Everyone is affected -- taking a train, driving a car, school children going to learn," Connor said.
Some Chelsea High School students want people, including lawmakers to know about the problem.
They recorded the number of diesel trucks driving through a Chelsea neighborhood.
"We counted 33 diesel trucks passed by in about 35 minutes," said Rebecca Kelly of Chelsea Green Space.
But there is a simple solution to all the pollution. It's just a matter of installing a particulate filter in the exhaust system.
Woburn-based GEO 2 Technologies developed a filter to retrofit diesel trucks. The cost averages $5,000 and effectively eliminates about 90 percent of the particles coming out of the vehicle.
"The problem is real. The solution is here," said Jeremy McLarmid of Environment Northeast.
A bill is now before the legislature that would require retrofits for all state-owned and contracted vehicles. The problem is the cost.
"What would be the cost of lives if we do nothing," WBZ's Mish Michael's asked McLarmid.
"It's 500 premature deaths a year in Massachusetts alone," he answered.
That's a high price to pay for simply commuting to work.
Drivers can protect themselves from harmful fumes during your commute by keeping the windows shut and the air on re-circulate.
As for state school buses, money has been allotted to retrofit all of them within the next two years.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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