Failing the Grade
How Diesel School Buses Threaten Our Children’s Health.

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Ironically, the very transportation system that carries California’s most precious resource - our children - can be characterized as the most aged, least funded, and one of the most polluting fleets in the nation. California lags behind many other states in turning over its school bus fleets. The age and diesel dependence of California’s school buses is especially troubling because children are more susceptible to the health effects of air pollution than adults. Unlike adults, a child’s organs, including the brain, lungs, and reproductive system, are in a constant state of development and do not reach full maturation until well past puberty. Due to the body’s immaturity, a child is far less capable of defending herself from airborne pollutants and toxics that can penetrate deep into her respiratory tract and other vital organs, causing serious illnesses like asthma and retarding lung development.

Contents

• Introduction: School Children At Risk
• Highlights
• Selected Policy Recommendations
• The Health Effects of Diesel Exhaust on Children
• Why it is the End of the Line for Diesel: Exposure and Health Effects
• The Clean Alternatives to Diesel
• Demonstrated Public School Success Stories
• Funding Opportunities Available for School Districts
• Conclusions and Policy Recommendations
• Endnotes