Clean Construction
Construction vehicles and equipment are a major source of diesel pollution. The construction industry uses more diesel engines than any other sector. Nationwide, there are over 2 million pieces of construction equipment and 31% of this equipment was manufactured before the introduction of emission regulations.
What are the health impacts from construction equipment?
Pollution from diesel construction equipment and vehicles can pose a significant health threat to the public and workers as diesel exhaust contains over 40 toxic air contaminants, carcinogens, ozone smog-forming compounds, and fine particulate matter (“soot”). Exposure to fine particles is known to cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes, and even premature deaths.
Who’s at risk?
Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in close proximity to a construction site is at risk to the dangers of diesel exhaust. Construction workers who work close to diesel pollution sources, are also particularly at risk. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that workers exposed to diesel exhaust are at elevated risk of developing lung cancer.
What are the solutions?
What are the health impacts from construction equipment?
Pollution from diesel construction equipment and vehicles can pose a significant health threat to the public and workers as diesel exhaust contains over 40 toxic air contaminants, carcinogens, ozone smog-forming compounds, and fine particulate matter (“soot”). Exposure to fine particles is known to cause asthma attacks, heart attacks, lung cancer, strokes, and even premature deaths.
Who’s at risk?
Anyone who lives, works, or goes to school in close proximity to a construction site is at risk to the dangers of diesel exhaust. Construction workers who work close to diesel pollution sources, are also particularly at risk. Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that workers exposed to diesel exhaust are at elevated risk of developing lung cancer.
What are the solutions?
- Switch to cleaner fuels. Using cleaner fuels, such as ultra-low sulfur fuel, can reduce “soot” pollution.
- Retrofit. Installing pollution controls, such as diesel particulate filters or diesel oxidation catalysts, can achieve immediate and significant reductions in diesel pollution. Diesel particulate filters can reduce “soot” pollution by up to 90%.
- Replace. Replacing old construction equipment with a new lower-emission model ahead of schedule can result in substantial pollution reductions. Replacing old equipment can also reduce fuel and maintenance costs.
- Reduce idling. Reducing the amount of idling time a vehicle or piece of equipment operates can reduce pollution.
Today, numerous cities and public agencies are also adopting “clean diesel construction requirements” in their public works contracts as a way to reduce diesel pollution from construction projects. Boston’s “BIG DIG”, the 7 World Trade Center Rebuild, the O’Hare Modernization Project, and the Dan Ryan Reconstruction Project are several examples of large scale projects that have used clean contracting. For more information about clean diesel construction projects, click here.
Contact your local government today and urge
them to adopt clean contracting!