Environmental Issues > Energy Main Page > All Energy Documents

---

This February 2001 study from NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air shows that children who ride a diesel school bus may be exposed to up to four times more toxic diesel exhaust than someone traveling in a car directly in front of it. The study found that excess exhaust levels on school buses were 23 to 46 times higher than levels considered to be a significant cancer risk according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and federal guidelines.

---

OVERVIEW & QUICK REFERENCE
Press Release
Frequently Asked Questions

FULL REPORT IN PDF
Adobe Acrobat file (size: 235k)
Click here if you need a copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader (free)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Links indicate sections available as individual webpages)
Introduction
Introduccion en Español
Chapter 1: Diesel Exhaust Exposures on California School Buses -- Study Results
Chapter 2: The Serious Health Impacts of Diesel Exhaust
Chapter 3: Cleaner Alternative Fuel School Buses Are Available Today
Chapter 4: Clean Fuel School Bus Success Stories Across America
Chapter 5: So-Called "Clean" and "Green Diesel" School Buses Remain Dirtier Than Alternative Fuel School Buses
Chapter 6: Aftertreatment, Repowers, and Rebuilds: How We Can Make Our Existing Diesel School Bus Fleet Cleaner
Chapter 7: Funding Is Available to Help School Districts Switch to Alternative Fuel School Buses, But More Is Needed
Chapter 8: Local Air Quality Agencies Can Adopt Fleet Rules Requiring School Districts to Purchase Only Clean Alternative Fuel School Buses
Chapter 9: Conclusions and Recommendations
Report Credits and Acknowledgments

Appendices
Appendix A: School Bus Monitoring Study Protocol
Appendix B: Potential Cancer Risk to Children in School Buses
Appendix C: The Aethalometer
Appendix D: Portable Monitor/Data Logger
Appendix E: Emissions Comparisons of ARB Certified Diesel, CNG, Propane (LPG) School Bus Engines and Non-Certified "Green" Diesel School Bus Engine Technology
Appendix F: Examples of Available Funding Sources for Conversion to Alternative Fuels
Appendix G: Sample Letters to the Air Board, the School District and Elected Officials
Appendix H: Sample School Board Resolution in Support of an Alternative Fuel School Bus Policy

For printed copies of this report, see our Publications List.

No Breathing in the Aisles : Diesel Exhaust Inside School Buses. By NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air. February 2001. Print version, $7.50. Order print copies .

last revised 2/11/2001