Transport Topics reports that earlier this week, 15 states including North Carolina in the Southeast signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to work together to accelerate sales of medium and heavy-duty trucks. The goal is 30% by 2030 and 100% by 2050.
Why is this such good news for health, and especially children’s health?
Diesel exhaust is probably the unhealthiest vehicle exhaust there is. It contains nitrogen oxides, particulates (soot), carcinogens such as benzene and formaldehyde, and heavy metals such as arsenic. Nitrogen oxides cause health problems directly, and also contributes to ozone formation during hot sunny weather. Ozone causes asthma attacks and contributes to children and teens developing asthma. Particulates damage lung growth in children and teens, cause respiratory problems, lead to preterm birth, and can affect growth and school performance.
Children who live or go to school near highways or freight hubs will be healthier and thrive more, because the air they breathe will cleaner.
The 15 states that signed the MOU pledged to work together to increase sales, and to increase charging infrastructure. There will be financing incentives and the states will also look at weight restrictions since EV batteries can add to the weight of the vehicle. The states that signed the MOU will be steering the whole country towards cleaner trucks.
NRDC notes that transportation makes more than half the country’s nitrogen oxide pollution, and that heavy duty vehicles make up the biggest share of the nitrogen oxides coming from transportation.
NRDC also notes that because of environmental racism highways, intermodal stations, and ports have been located in or near communities of color and lower wealth communities. There is more air pollution exposure and more health problems from breathing the increased air pollution. Cleaning up the exhaust from trucks will help address some of the burdens of over-exposure.
Having more EV’s on the road will also help fight climate change. The Lancet, a major medical journal, has stated that climate change threatens the health of every child alive today.
Read the Transport Topics article here.
Read the NRDC article here.
