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How clean is the air on your child's school bus?
Posted on May 9th 2007 1:00PM by Bethany SandersFiled Under: Nutrition & Supplements
What's riding on the school bus with your child? Air pollution, say experts, at least for students who take older, diesel powered buses to school. Newer buses have been designed to cut diesel emissions, but on older buses the air inside can be up to five times more polluted than the air outside around the bus.
Diesel emissions on school buses are a concern, because children's lungs are still developing. Children also tend to breathe more quickly than adults and take on more air per pound. There is a quick fix, however, for these older buses -- a $700 filter can reduce up to 85% of emissions. A more expensive $7,500 filter can do even better and eliminate 90% of soot emissions.
Many states have started clean air initiatives to fund the retrofitting of the older buses. Check out the EPA's website on the issue, and more importantly let your school district know that grant funding is available to help offset the cost of getting their buses fixed.
Diesel emissions on school buses are a concern, because children's lungs are still developing. Children also tend to breathe more quickly than adults and take on more air per pound. There is a quick fix, however, for these older buses -- a $700 filter can reduce up to 85% of emissions. A more expensive $7,500 filter can do even better and eliminate 90% of soot emissions.
Many states have started clean air initiatives to fund the retrofitting of the older buses. Check out the EPA's website on the issue, and more importantly let your school district know that grant funding is available to help offset the cost of getting their buses fixed.
