Diesel exhaust kills your throat cells…yikes!

I guess if all our throat cells die it will make protesting against Metrolinx diesel trains all that more difficult : (

July 25, 2009   Posted in: Uncategorized  No Comments

More grim news about particulate pollution

Here’s a New York  Times article revealing some disheartening new research findings…I’ll try to dig up more info on this when I’m back in T.O.

June 8, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Link to proposed Canadian Federal air-quality standards

http://www.ec.gc.ca/pdb/can_us/qual/matter.html

February 17, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Link to Utah Moms for Clean Air

Here is a great resource which I’ve only scraped the surface of.  This group in Utah is advocating for cleaner air through numerous initiatives.  Addressing school bus diesel pollution is one of those.  Good articles.

February 17, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Neat info on the quality of diesel fuel in US & Canada

A 1998 report on fuel lubricity worldwide found that diesel fuel sold in the US and Canada is some of the poorest quality fuel in the world. Fully 50% of the US fuel was found to be below the standards recommended by equipment manufacturers.
http://www.biodiesel.org/pdf_files/fuelfactsheets/Lubricity.PDF

Big Oil has dragged it’s feet in cleaning up diesel fuel in the US. Europe started producing cleaner, low-sulfur diesel fuel in 1990; the US plans to follow in 2006. And the new generation of clean diesels either can’t meet the US emissions standards on the dirty US fuel, or they can’t even use it.

February 17, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Toronto Board of Health report on pollution and illness

Here is the PDF of the 2007 report that Toronto Public Health released.  We’d love to get help from TPH (one of the best municipal public health organizations in the world according to some) to encourage GO to use electric locomotives for the Air-Rail Link, but, according to Councillor Perks, TPH receives a large amount of its funding from the Province of Ontario.  I have not confirmed this, but i doubt they’d bite the hand that feeds them.

February 17, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Info on particulate pollution

Wikipedia article on particulate pollution.  The most relevant question that arises from my reading this is: will GO or the GofO monitor particulate levels along the corridor to ensure that the most stringent institutional standards of air-quality are adhered to?

“The main particulate fraction of diesel exhaust consists of small particles. Because of their small size, inhaled particles may easily penetrate deep into the lungs. The rough surfaces of these particles makes it easy for them to bind with othertoxins in the environment, thus increasing the hazards of particle inhalation. Exposures have been linked with acute short-term symptoms such as headache, dizziness, light-headedness, nausea, coughing, difficult or labored breathing, tightness of chest, and irritation of the eyes and nose and throat. Long-term exposures can lead to chronic, more serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, cardiopulmonary disease, and lung cancer.

Exposure to diesel exhaust and DPM is a known occupational hazard to truckers, railroad workers, and miners using diesel-powered equipment in underground mines. Adverse health effects have also been observed in the general population at ambient atmospheric particle concentrations well below the concentrations in occupational settings.”

From Wikipedia

“Recently, concerns have been raised in the U.S. regarding children’s exposure to DPM as they ride diesel-poweredschoolbuses to and from school. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the Clean School Bus USA initiative in an effort to unite private and public organizations in curbing student exposures.”

“Particulate matter studies in Bangkok Thailand indicated a 1.9% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, and 1.0% risk of all disease for every 10 micrograms per cubic meter. Levels averaged 65 in 1996, 68 in 2002, and 52 in 2004. Decreasing levels may be attributed to conversions of diesel to natural gas combustion as well as improved regulations.”

From Wikipedia

February 17, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Toronto Star article on GO funding

Here’s a good chance to add your comments at the bottom of a Star article on the announced $500M boost to GO’s budget.  Great, but how can Dalton crow about a cleaner province when GO will be using diesel locomotives?

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/588668

February 17, 2009   Posted in: Community, Metrolinx  No Comments

Link to Toronto City Council’s motion concerning the rail link

Councillor Gord Perks sent me a PDF of the motion that City Council passed concerning the Union to Pearson rail link.  It was moved by Mayor David Miller and seconded by Councillor Frances Nunziata (Ward 11 – York South/Weston).  City Council on January 27 and 28, 2009, received for information, a petition (undated) submitted by Councillor Frances Nunziata, Ward 11, York South-Weston, from approximately 874 persons respecting the Air-Rail Link.

Here is the PDF.  The motion is on the bottom of page 105.  The summary:

1. City Council oppose any road closures along the route.
2. City Council support the addition of new stops, including a stop in Weston.
3. Public transit alternatives in the Georgetown corridor and serving the airport be a
component of any service improvements.
4. Metrolinx be requested to employ electric vehicles.
5. City Council reaffirm its strong interest in seeing the West-Toronto Railpath (bike trail)
project accommodated adjacent to the tracks between Dundas Street West and Strachan
Avenue.

February 7, 2009   Posted in: Metrolinx  No Comments

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February 7, 2009   Posted in: Community  No Comments