Toxic Diesel Pollution Brown Bag

The D.C. Environmental Network invites all interested to a BROWN BAG LUNCHEON!


Toxic Diesel Pollution in DC - Possible Solutions featuring -

Brooke Suter, Coordinator, National Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution

DATE: Thursday, October 8, 2009
TIME: 12:00 TO 1:30 PM
PLACE: Friends of the Earth, 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW #600 (Dupont Circle Metro - South Exit)
CALL IN: 888-346-3659 when prompted enter 7405#


The DC Environmental Network is pleased to have Brooke Suter, Coordinator of the National Partnership to Reduce Diesel Pollution, join us to share on-going efforts to reduce toxic diesel pollution on the local, state and federal levels, and to solicit our thoughts on possible actions in the DC area. At this point in time, significant opportunities may exist to build on prior and current initiatives and reap positive effects for DC communities.

Why Diesel?

* The District Of Columbia ranks in the 98th worst percentile for health risks from diesel soot when ranked with among the 48 contiguous states + DC. DC is ranked as presenting the 2nd greatest health risk from diesel pollution when ranked among states.
* DC presents the 12th greatest health risk as compared to other metro areas.
* Diesel emissions are linked to a myriad of health impacts, including asthma attacks, heart attacks, stroke, and cancer.
* The lung cancer risk in DC from diesel pollution is 546 times greater than EPA’s “acceptable” cancer risk of 1 cancer in a million.
* In addition, as a global warming pollutant, black carbon (found in diesel pollution) is about 2000 times more potent than the equivalent amount of CO2 over a 20-year period. As a short lived pollutant, reducing black carbon is one of the few actions that can be taken that will have immediate climate benefits, complementing long-term efforts to reduce CO2 emissions.
* Diesel pollution is a cross-cutting issue impacting many issues and constituencies of concern: Air toxics, Global Warming, Kids' Health, Environmental Justice communities, Workers and Commuters.
* To learn more about the public health risks from diesel pollution in D.C., visit: http://www.catf.us/projects/diesel/dieselhealth/state.php?site=0&s=11
* For a report that summarizes the Health Impacts from Diesel, see: www.catf.us/goto/dieselhealth

Questions for Exploration

* What policies might be worthwhile to pursue in DC legislation?

* Are there media approaches that would help support DC efforts and/or federal efforts that would benefit DC air? One valuable focus might be commuters. Please see short TV clips at http://www.catf.us/projects/diesel/videos/news-commute.php Also, the report, No Escape from Diesel Exhaust: How to Reduce Commuter Exposure can be viewed at www/catf.us/goto/noescape This report documents diesel exposure in a variety of commutes (highways, transit buses and commuter trains) and shows that although on average we spend 6% of our day commuting, that is when we get up to 60% of our daily exposure to harmful ultrafine particles.

Brookes Presentation will be followed by an open discussion.

*Remember to bring a picture ID to get in the building!

RSVP: Chris Weiss, Director, DC Environmental Network, Friends of Earth (202) 222-0746; cweiss@foe.org