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Pollution from Construction Equipment

Lots of new construction often signals a strong local economy. But it could also mean excessive amounts of diesel pollution and illnesses for local residents.

The Union of Concerned Scientists recently studied the impact of pollution from construction equipment on residents of high-growth areas in California. It found that construction-related pollution was responsible for more than 1,100 premature deaths in 2005, along with 183,000 lost workdays; 1,086 hospitalizations; and $9.1 billion in related costs.

It’s not just that diesel-powered construction equipment spews harmful emissions into the air. New technology could help reduce emissions for construction equipment, but only if companies replace their older machines with the newer versions. That isn’t happening, because excavators and big diggers can last for decades without needing to be replaced, and companies are reluctant to shell out for new machines until they have to.

In 2004, the Environmental Protection Agency put regulations into place creating emissions standards for new construction equipment, but the rules don’t require companies to replace old equipment until it wears out. The report estimates it could be 2030 before the old machines are phased out.

That’s a long time to wait for clean air.

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To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org