EPA Announces Over $7 Million to Protect Students in Puerto Rico from Diesel Exhaust

Last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the recipients of their 2023 Clean School Bus Program rebate competition. For the Puerto Rico Department of Education, the rebates total over $7.6 million for the purchase of 25 clean school buses.

According to the EPA announcement:
The selection will help Puerto Rico accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles and to replace older, diesel school buses, which have been linked to asthma and other conditions that harm the health of students and surrounding communities.

The Clean School Bus Program is meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save money for school districts and produce cleaner air. EPA claims that phasing out diesel engines will ensure cleaner air for students, bus drivers and school staff working near the bus loading areas, and for the communities these buses drive through.

Exposure to diesel exhaust is a concern due to its complex mixture of various gases and fine particles that contain more than 40 toxic compounds. The gases include hydrocarbons and oxides of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen. The particles mainly consist of organic carbon compounds adsorbed onto cores of microscopic elemental carbon. More than 95% of these particles are less than 1 micrometer in size and are respirable. Due to their tiny size, diesel exhaust PM can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and even into the bloodstream. Short-term exposure to high concentrations of diesel PM and exhaust can cause headaches, dizziness and irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. Prolonged exposure can increase the risk of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer.

“Breathing elevated levels of diesel exhaust is a health issue and it’s not just students and school faculty who are impacted by exposure,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Workers in many industries, as well as anyone living in neighborhoods close to busy roads, freeways, ports, construction sites, truck yards and other facilities with diesel engines, are also at possible risk.”

To protect against exposure to diesel exhaust and other airborne pollutants, the environmental and industrial hygiene professionals at Zimmetry Environmental provide testing, monitoring and consulting services. They have even sponsored an educational video about diesel exhaust, PM and air quality issues that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/mAjDvBwKFWE

To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their air quality, industrial hygiene, environmental and compliance services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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