Trucks and schools don’t mix
January 26th, 2009 Posted in Health and Safety
A great contribution to the website from Alice, a concerned citizen:
The Kettle Island corridor is the most heavily populated corridor with 11 or more schools and colleges surrounding the Aviation Parkway, the closest school less than a block away. Take a look at Kettle Island truck route – a closer look for a detailed map of the corridor, showing these schools and other impacted institutions.
From: 13th Annual University of California Transportation Research Conference February 16, 2007
- Freeways’ tainted air harms children’s lungs, experts say
- Lifelong damage is found in 13-year study of 3,600 Southland youngsters living within 500 yards of a highway. The Los Angeles Times, 1/26/07
- Residential proximity within 200 meters of a major roadway was strongly associated with childhood asthma and wheeze
- Risks were larger within 75 meters of a major roadway
- Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks (HDDT) emit high levels of particulate matter (PM) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX), and a complex mixture of gaseous air pollutants
- 41 of these gaseous and/or particle-associated pollutants are listed in California as toxic air contaminants
- Diesel exhaust PM has been associated with approximately 70 percent of known potential cancer risk from air toxics in Southern California (SCAQMD, 1999)
- Over 70 percent of California’s Diesel PM pollution is from the goods movement sector, and over 70 percent of these emissions were from Heavy Duty Diesel Trucks (CARB, 2006)
- Ultrafine particles (< 0.1 μm) can penetrate cell walls and the blood-brain and can be easily absorbed into vital organs
The full presentation can be read at: http://www.its.ucla.edu/uctc/PowerPoints/Houston_UCLA.pdf
Of course based on the criteria used by the committee none of this is as important as the needs of the trucks.
Tags: diesel fuel
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January 27th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Children and smog… I found this on the City of Ottawa site. The the last bullet is especially interesting “children should avoid being near high traffic areas”: http://ottawa.ca/residents/health/environments/issues/smog/smog_children_en.html
Children and Smog
________________________________________
How can smog affect the health of my child?
• Children are more likely to experience respiratory effects of smog such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath because:
• Children breathe in more air than adults. They also breathe faster than adults, especially during strenuous activity and play.
• Children tend to breathe through their mouths and by-pass the natural filtering system in the nose. This allows large amounts of polluted air to get directly into their lungs.
• Children spend more time outside than adults.
• Smog increases a child’s risk of getting sick. Children are more susceptible to infections than adults, and smog reduces the respiratory system’s ability to fight infection and remove foreign particles.
• Smog can make the symptoms of childhood asthma and allergies worse.
How do I protect the health of my child on a smog alert day?
• Reduce your child’s outdoor work, play or exercise.
• Children with asthma and allergies should avoid being outside.
• Plan activities for your child that can be done indoors in a cool, well ventilated place.
• Schedule any “must be outside” activities early in the morning when pollution levels are lowest.
• Children should avoid being outside during peak rush hour times or near high traffic areas. This will reduce their exposure to smog and other air pollutants.
Adapted with permission, from the Smog Alert materials produced by the City of Toronto and by the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Air Quality Ontario (Ministry of Environment)http://www.airqualityontario.com/
January 27th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Also, 2 seniors’ / retirement residences: Manor Heritage Manor 624 Wilson Street, Ottawa, Ontario; and another between Matheson and Cadboro roads, on Oglivie (sorry but I don’t know its name).