Study says California diesel responsible for 1,100 premature deaths

Lunguna Beach

Overpopulation plaguing your state? Follow California's lead and kill 'em off! A Union of Concerned Scientists study says diesel emissions from old construction equipment contributed to 1,100 premature deaths and half a million sick days in California in 2005, costing an estimated $9.1 billion. "Construction equipment being used to build our hospitals shouldn't fill them up," says UCS author Don Anair. Unless, of course, it's some sort of state-sanctioned plan. A second study published in Cardiology says people with clogged arteries face a higher risk of heart attack after a day or two of exposure to diesel pollution. Currently, California emissions standards apply to about 30 percent of building equipment; on Monday, the state's Air Resources Board issued draft rules that would require older construction, industrial, and mining equipment to be replaced or retrofit between 2009 and 2020. By which time, the old machines will no doubt have brought population numbers down to a manageable level.

straight to the source: Los Angeles Times, Janet Wilson, 06 Dec 2006

straight to the source: The Mercury News, Associated Press, Garance Burke, 05 Dec 2006

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EU airline emissions controls

It's a good thing that the EU is acting to control intercontinental emissions by bringing them within its carbon emissions trading system. Less than a quarter of EU air travel CO2 is emitted from travel within the EU. The bulk of the CO2 comes from long-haul intercontinental flights that begin or end in the EU.

If ticket prices rise, people will seek alternative ways of doing business and making personal connections.

I hope one day the US American government will follow the EU's lead. I notice how quickly our government is taking steps regarding the Iraq war in response to the recent election. I hope that at some point we can convince our government that US Americans also care about our environmental future, and then the government will follow the citizens' lead.

-- Love doesn't just sit there like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new. --Ursula LeGuin

by racje at 3:38 PM on 06 Dec 2006

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