Bush Admin recommends voluntary reductions of diesel pollution, linked to 8,500 premature deaths

AP ^ | 6/7/02 | John Heilprin

[Native American Female Vet]

WASHINGTON Three days before the scheduled release of a study linking non-road diesel engines to 8,500 premature deaths a year, the Bush administration said Friday that curbing such pollution should be a top environmental priority and suggested voluntary reductions.

The study concludes emissions from engines used in diesel-powered vehicles and equipment such as bulldozers, portable generators and tractors should be toughly regulated because of their role in the premature deaths and an estimated $67 billion in health care costs annually. The health costs result from problems such as asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis and emergency room visits.

[Ajnin]

One of these days I'm going to tally up all the deaths caused by the infinite number of "evil things" espoused by the nannies in this country. I bet the total number of deaths will be found somewhere in the realm of fantasy land.

[Native American Female Vet]

I just can not keep up with it anymore :-)

[Free the USA]

Bump list

[boris]

"One of these days I'm going to tally up all the deaths caused by the infinite number of "evil things" espoused by the nannies in this country. I bet the total number of deaths will be found somewhere in the realm of fantasy land."

A pertinent point would be to add up all the years of life added by availability of inexpensive fruits and vegetables--made possible by diesel machinery. Or the health benefits of new buildings (like hospitals) constructed by diesel machinery. Hmm.

I often wonder when California (I just know it will be here first) will pass a law which outlaws internal combustion (like Al Gore wanted to do). They'll begin with trucks, earthmoving equipment, tractors, busses.

Ever seen an all-electric bulldozer? One powered by fuel cells? Solar cells? Me neither.

--Boris

[wcbtinman]

Will no one rid us of these troublesome politicians?

[KC_for_Freedom]

I agree with you. Bush has better things to do than try to Out Gore Gore. And you are right about California. I have one more month to go here and I am counting the days. Regards.

[Ajnin]

It's too bad all the bad things that are going to happen in California in the future could not come to fruition tomorrow. All the boiling frogs would jump right out of the pot, hopefully missing the fire.

[larryjohnson]

Cars as well as trucks in enviro-friendly Europe are diesel to a large degree. Who is behind the anti diesel,I hate to say,is our own engine manufacturers.

[Ben Ficklin]

Unlike carbon dioxide, there is no disagreeement on the need to regulate diesel soot particulate, as well as methane, NOx, CO, VOCs, CFCs, sulpher, mercury, etc. Bush's policies are supported by sound science.

[Ben Ficklin]

The new diesel engines coming on line in the US will be recirculating a portion of the exhaust gasses back thru the combustion chamber.

The trucking industry has created a mini-boom for the old engines as they have ordered much equipment powered by the old engine, trying to get in before the deadline.

[supercat]

The trucking industry has created a mini-boom for the old engines as they have ordered much equipment powered by the old engine, trying to get in before the deadline.

Many techniques for improving engine efficiency also reduce pollution. If someone can come up with new technologies that improve engine efficiency and reduce pollution, without undue cost and without sacrificing reliability, the market will migrate toward such engines.

That hasn't happened, yet, and premature adoption of potentially-good technologies can sometimes cause bad effects and even delay the maturation of such technologies to the point that they would be beneficial.