Contrived Controversy over Diesel Soot
Posted August 18, 2010 in Curbing Pollution, Health and the Environment
The Sacramento Bee buzzed yesterday over a “diesel soot saga,” spinning a colorful tale that questions whether diesel soot is a major health hazard. Yes, diesel soot is a major health hazard, according to every major air quality and public health authority (if you’re unsure, please read here and here). There is no “intense argument” in scientific and regulatory circles about diesel soot; the “leading academic” critic of diesel clean-up regulations, James Enstrom, appears to be the lone critic, supported by major industries including tobacco, and utilizing questionable research (see critique at: Inhal Toxicol. 2006 Jan;18(7):507-8; discussion 509-14).
Dr. Enstrom’s status at UCLA should not be a distraction from the real issue at hand here: Diesel pollution kills people every day; it takes out young and old, leaving illness and misery in its wake up and down the state. Let’s set this contrived controversy aside and let the Air Resources Board get back to what it does best, cleaning our air and protecting the health of Californians.
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KGO Radio — Aug 22 2010 03:45 AM
Engstrom is certainly not a"lone holdout" regarding diesel regs. Many are saying this as Europe continues to adopt and rely on efficient diesel power. Our air is cleaner than it has been in a century. How clean does the air have to be before we can finally stop spending literally billions EVERY YEAR on California clean air bureaucracy?