Sick of Soot

The report finds that diesel pollution caused an estimated 3,000 premature deaths and $21.5 billion in health costs in California in 2004. While new engine standards help, the majority of pollution comes from existing engines, and the state's Diesel Risk Reduction Plan is at risk of failing due to funding gaps and regulatory delays. The Union of Concerned Scientists argues that investing in incentive programs like the Moyer Program provides high returns, reducing public health costs by $9 to $16 for every dollar invested.

• In 2004, diesel pollution in California was estimated to cause 3,000 premature deaths, which exceeded the state's estimated annual homicide rate of 2,300. Additionally, it caused approximately 2,700 cases of chronic bronchitis and 4,400 hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, totaling $21.5 billion in annual health costs.
• The South Coast Air Basin is the most impacted region in California, accounting for nearly half of the state's diesel-related health incidences. In 2004, this basin saw an estimated 1,400 premature deaths, 1,300 cases of chronic bronchitis, and 2,100 hospitalizations, with annual health costs reaching $10.2 billion.
• While new engine standards reduce pollution from new vehicles, they do not address existing engines, which are the primary source of pollution for the next decade. Federal regulations also currently exclude trains and ships.
• California's Diesel Risk Reduction Plan aims to reduce diesel PM by 75% by 2010 and 85% by 2020, but it is likely to fall short. Projections suggest diesel PM will only be reduced by about 30% by 2010 due to funding shortages and regulatory gridlock.
• The Carl Moyer Memorial Air Standards Attainment Program is highly cost-effective, reducing public health costs by $9 to $16 for every dollar invested. However, its funding dropped from $50 million in 2001 to $18 million in 2004.
• The Lower Emission School Bus Program, which targets the vulnerable student population, has seen significant budget cuts, falling from $50 million in 2000 to less than $5 million in 2004.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (n.d.). Sick of Soot. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/executive_summary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Sick of Soot. n.d. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/executive_summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Sick of Soot |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/executive_summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientistsndsick, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Sick of Soot}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/executive_summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }