Diesel Pollution Makes Us Sick

Diesel engines emit a mixture of particles, metals and gasses including over 40 "hazardous air pollutants" as classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Clean Air Act. Diesel pollution can trigger asthma and cause lung cancer, stroke, and heart attack, contributing to 21,000 early deaths a year. Nationally, diesel exhaust poses a cancer risk that is 7 times greater than the combined risk of all air toxics assessed by EPA. Diesel exhaust is particularly dangerous because it is emitted at ground level - just where people breathe it in¹ .

The Urban Environmental Institute (UEI) is a leadership initiative project in Newark, NJ.

The institute was established to create the next generation of urban
environmental advocates. The UEI has completed three leadership
training courses since April 2008. The next training course is being
planned for 2009. Read on to find out more about the program or print
out brochure listed below.

Location(s)

Saturday, April 4, 2009 (8 am - 5 pm with reception to follow)
Rutgers University School of Law, 123 Washington Street, Newark, NJ

Attend the New Jersey Environmental Federation's 23rd anniversary conference!

Amy Goldsmith, NJEF State Director, Belmar

Additional Information from NJ Audubon Society:

The Solution: Habitat Protection Rules

Habitat protection rules would provide the NJ Department of Environmental Protection with a tool to prevent the continued loss of important habitat. Effective rules would regulate any activities that harass threatened and endangered species by altering or destroying their habitat, while standardizing critical habitat protections across permit programs.

Steps to Passing the Pledge in Your Municipality:

Start Your Own "Idle Free" Zone Campaign at Your Business and/or Shopping Center!

If idling is a concern at your workplace or if your business or industry has a fleet of vehicles, implement the following measures to discourage idling and save money on fuel!

Did you know that idling your vehicle for more than 3 minutes is against the law in New Jersey? View state and local no-idling regulations. 

That's because vehicle exhaust not only pollutes our air (it is the leading source of hazardous air pollution in New Jersey (source: NJDEP), but also puts people, especially children, at risk for asthma and other respiratory ailments, allergies, and possible long term problems. In addition, vehicles release potent
greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

NJEF, with the help of Chatham Township and Millburn Environmental Commission, has embarked on an "Idle Free New Jersey" campaign to educate New Jerseyans about the law, enforce no-idling hot spots, and ask schools and towns to adopt an "Idle Free New Jersey" pledge.

Steps to Passing the Pledge in Your School:

New Jersey Environmental Federation is urging towns to take the "Kids Clean Air Zones" pledge to adopt various policies that will clean up the air around neighborhoods and parks.

View the latest report: No Escape from Diesel Exhaust from the Clean Air Task Force.

View NJEF's press release, National Report Reveals No Escape for Commuters from Diesel Danger