Diesel Retrofits on Ambulances
Parma Heights is the first city in Ohio to retrofit its ambulance fleet with diesel emission controls, which will eliminate in-cabin pollution and reduce tailpipe emissions by 40 percent. Prior to the installation of these controls, the air quality in these ambulances would have been alarming. For example, a medical technician may have been helping a person with respiratory distress who needs to go to the hospital. However, as the ambulance pulled away, it would have emitted a black cloud of exhaust from the tailpipe. This exhaust would have the potential to seriously aggravate the patient’s breathing.
Diesel engine exhaust is hazardous to humans. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencty has identified diesel exhaust as a probable carcinogen. There are more than 40 known toxins that come out of a diesel tailpipe, such as formaldehyde and benzene. To compound this health hazard, diesel exhaust also includes particulate matter—particles so small that they penetrate the lung and pass into the bloodstream.
Diesel emissions impact Ohio’s environment and economy. Diesel engines are a source of black carbon. In the U.S., 57 percent of all black carbon emissions come from on and off-road diesel engines. Nearly one-third of Ohio counties are failing federal air quality standards for ozone and particle pollution. If the state does not come into compliance, the federal government will expand the e-check program for motor vehicles, require county emission off-sets and possibly withhold highway funds from the state.
But in Parma Heights, thanks to a local resident and an environmental group, the ambulances are running cleaner. Toni Temple, a Parma Heights resident, suffers from multiple chemical sensitivity, and diesel fumes exacerbate this condition. She connected the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) with Parma Heights to help clean up their ambulances.
The city has taken on other diesel clean-up measures, such as establishing a no-idle policy for city vehicles, applied and received grants to retrofit most of its service vehicles and educated their employees about the importance of diesel clean-up.
At a recent press conference, the OEC praised Parma Heights’ commitment to air quality issues and action toward reducing diesel pollution. The OEC also called on the state of Ohio to adopt green contract language for any public works project of $2 million or above. This language would require an immediate reduction in pollution by 20 percent and a reduction of 85 percent by 2013. The OEC is also calling for the state to invest resources in retrofitting off-road diesel equipment for the next five years. Retrofitting 20 percent of the fleet a year for five years means more than one ton of particle pollution eliminated. Additionally, for every one million dollars invested in retrofit equipment more than 20 new jobs are created and diesel retrofits are one of the most cost effective means for reducing dangerous diesel pollution.
The OEC currently is working with Cleveland Heights, Dublin, Ohio, Cincinnati and Cleveland to retrofit a portion of their fleets. For more information, contact David R. Celebrezze at David@theOEC.org or visit www.theOEC.org.