Diesel, Asthma & Health
 

The RAMP Environment Committee -- a group of asthma, environmental health and justice advocates, and other regional and community partners -- has been working to address the connection between asthma and diesel. More and more research and community experience point to diesel pollution both as an asthma trigger and a cause of the disease.

Here are a few areas which RAMP has lead or in which we've been involved:

Regional Diesel Convening - October 1, 2004
Ditching Dirty Diesel: A Bay-Area-Wide Convening on Diesel Pollution, Asthma, and EJ and Public Health Strategies for Cleaning the Air in Our Communities.

The convening was a success! About one hundred people attended the day-long workshop planned by RAMP, Pacific Institute, Urban Habitat, the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project, and dozens of community-based organizations, health affected groups, and technical assistance providers. The convening was designed to educate ourselves on diesel pollution and develop strategies to reduce this pollution in our communities. By coming together, we can build our power to reduce diesel pollution and improve community health throughout the region.

Some of the convening materials, including some of the presentations, are available below for downloading. Also, the work of the participants continues! If you would like to know more or get involved, please contact Joel Ervice, RAMP's Associate Director, at 510-622-4438 or <joel@rampasthma.org>.

Convening Agenda

Diesel Overview

Diesel 101: Diesel Pollution and Impacts
Fanta Kamakate, Pacific Insitute

The Health Effects of Diesel
Anne Kelsey Lamb, Regional Asthma Management and Prevention Initiative

Sick of Soot
Union of Concerned Scientists

Showcasing Local Initiatives

Local Efforts to Combat Air Pollution, Diesel Pollution, and Asthma
A summary of diesel-reduction efforts in San Francisco, Solano, West Oakland, West Contra Costa, and Long Beach.

Pollution Reduction with Trash Trucks
Sonoma Asthma Coalition

Technical Strategies and Solutions

Diesel Rules and Clean Up Programs
Diane Bailey, Natural Resources Defense Council

Tools for Community Monitoring of Diesel Particulate Matter
Fanta Kamakate, Pacific Insitute

Reducing Diesel Emissions: Technology Options
Don Anair, Union of Concerned Scientists

RAMP Diesel Workshop - October, 2003
In October, 2003, RAMP convened a workshop on asthma and diesel in order to share the latest research, mitigation measures, community advocacy, policy changes and media advocacy. Below are the workshop materials available for viewing.

Overview of Diesel and Asthma
A brief overview of the connection between diesel and asthma; a "lay of the land" covering some of the issues around diesel.
-- Gina Solomon, Natural Resources Defense Council

Diesel in the Bay Area
What is the overall diesel pollution burden in the Bay Area? Where are our biggest sources of diesel pollution? What are some of the clean up options and technologies being used?
-- Patricia Monahan, Union of Concerned Scientists

Strategies: Part 1
What are some strategies that have been used throughout the state?
-- Tim Carmichael, Coalition for Clean Air

Research Update
-- Janice Kim, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Strategies: Part 2
Community-based Research on Diesel
-- Meena Palaniappan, Pacific Institute
-- Monsa Nitoto, Coalition for West Oakland Revitalization
-- Margaret Gordon, Community Activist

What is BAAQMD doing?
-- Michael Murphy, Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Media Advocacy around Diesel
A discussion of media advocacy approaches and their application to asthma and diesel
-- Linda Weiner, American Lung Association of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties
-- Andy Weisser, American Lung Association of California
-- Jon Golinger, Our Children's Earth

Additional Background Materials on Diesel and Asthma
-- Diesel Exhaust and Asthma: Hypotheses and Molecular Mechanisms of Action, Environmental Health Perspectives
-- Clean School Buses, Healthy Kids, Union of Concerned Scientists

 

Advocacy efforts with the California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is currently implementing a Diesel Risk Reduction Program. Throughout the year there will be opportunities to advocate via letters and testimony for stronger regulations that reduce diesel pollution throughout California.

To learn more about ARB's latest proposals, as well as how to support strong regulatory language and enforcement, click here (look to the left side of the page under "Policy Updates".