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1,247 results
A Multi-City Investigation of Exposure to Diesel Exhaust in Multiple Commuting Modes Columbus OH, Austin TX, Boston MA, New York City, NY
The report documents that commuters in cars, buses, trains, and ferries are routinely exposed to high levels of diesel exhaust, with ultrafine particles (UFPs) serving as the most sensitive marker of fresh diesel emissions. Findings indicate that diesel soot dominates roadway particulate matter and that in-vehicle exposures are significantly higher than ambient outdoor air, particularly in 'pull' trains and highway tunnels. The study concludes that diesel particulate filters (DPFs) are highly effective at eliminating the soot plume behind vehicles, significantly improving air quality for following commuters and pedestrians.
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Document type: Report
ADAPTE Adaptation to the health impacts of air pollution and climate extremes in Latin American cities
The ADAPTE project investigates the interaction between air pollution and extreme weather on human health in Latin American cities, specifically focusing on Mexico City, Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Bogotá. Initial findings indicate that suspended particles and nitrogen oxides in these cities significantly exceed WHO standards, with vulnerability varying by age, sex, income, and season.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Calor, polvo y gente
The document details the ADAPTE project, which uses GIS to map social vulnerability and mortality risks linked to air pollution and temperature extremes in Latin American cities. It highlights that PM10 and NOx levels in Mexico City, Santiago, and Bogotá significantly exceed WHO standards and notes that respiratory and cardiovascular mortality risks vary by age group and season, particularly in Bogotá.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Adapting to Climate Change: No Time to Waste
The document argues that climate change threatens to reverse progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in rural Asia and Africa. It proposes four principles for adaptation—scale, speed, focus, and integration—and asserts that the developed world has a moral imperative to provide resources and skills to lower-income countries to build resilience and reduce vulnerability.
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Document type: Briefing
Statement of Daryl W. Ditz On Behalf of the Center for International Environmental Law Before the U.S House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection At a Hearing on Prioritizing Chemicals for Safety Determination
The statement argues that the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) has failed to ensure chemical safety and proposes three primary reforms: authorizing the EPA to phase out high-priority persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals; establishing a health-based safety standard for all chemicals where manufacturers bear the burden of proof; and mandating that manufacturers provide comprehensive, up-to-date data on chemical hazards and exposures. The author emphasizes that prioritization should determine the order of review rather than exclude chemicals from scrutiny, citing the failures of the EPA's ChAMP initiative and the potential benefits of aligning with the European Union's REACH regulation.
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Document type: Statement
Climate Change and Trade: The Challenges for Southern Africa
The research paper examines how climate change threatens Mozambique's economic development, specifically within agriculture, tourism, and public health. It highlights the country's high vulnerability due to its geography and poverty, noting that frequent natural disasters undermine progress toward Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While the government has established a National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), implementation is hindered by resource constraints. The paper also identifies potential opportunities through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and hydropower exports to South Africa.
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Document type: Research paper
Health Impacts of Diesel, Based on Data from the NationalScale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA)
The report uses data from the National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) and the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program (BenMAP) to quantify the health burden of diesel PM2.5. It finds that offroad diesel sources generally cause more cases of premature mortality and higher economic costs than onroad sources. The analysis employs a variety of epidemiological studies to estimate endpoints ranging from adult mortality to childhood asthma exacerbations, applying EPA-standard unit values and income adjustments to determine the economic impact.
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Document type: Report
Reducing Black Carbon from Diesels: A NearTerm Climate Strategy
The document identifies black carbon from diesel engines as a potent warming pollutant and proposes the widespread adoption of diesel particulate filters (DPFs) to achieve immediate climate and public health benefits in the United States.
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Document type: Fact sheet
bit_comments_aug09-4867933a2517bc5a.pdf
The document argues that the 2004 Model BIT prioritizes investor rights over public interest, specifically regarding sustainable development, environmental protection, and health and safety. The authors criticize the investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) mechanism for bypassing domestic courts and lacking appellate review. They contend the model fails the 'no greater rights' standard by using broad definitions of investment and expropriation that deviate from U.S. Supreme Court precedent. Key recommendations include replacing ISDS with state-to-state dispute settlement, requiring the exhaustion of domestic remedies, and introducing general exceptions for health, safety, and environmental measures.
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Document type: Statement
Climate Risk Impacts and Adaptation in Southern Africa
The report details a seminar on climate risk in Southern Africa, highlighting the vulnerability of agriculture, water, and health sectors. It emphasizes that while the region is least responsible for emissions, it is highly susceptible to climate-induced instability due to weak governance and reliance on rain-fed agriculture. Proposed solutions include multi-sectoral adaptation strategies, improved urban management, and strengthening governance capacities across the SADC region and the broader African continent.
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Document type: Report
16 a Reunión de la Conferencia de las Partes (CoP) del IAI / 16th IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) Meeting
The document is a participant list for the 16th IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) Meeting, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 19-20, 2009. It identifies representatives from member countries, observers, lecturers, and IAI staff.
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Document type: Fact sheet
letter-to-lisa-jackson-on-definition-of-solid-waste-rule-9b9e1737914aca4e.pdf
A coalition of environmental and health organizations argues that the EPA's 2008 rule exempting recycled hazardous waste from RCRA regulation creates significant public health risks, particularly for minority and low-income communities, and allows for the unsafe incorporation of toxins into commercial products, including those for children.
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Document type: Statement
Report of the IAI Directorate
The IAI Directorate reports progress on the CRN II and SGP-HD programs, highlighting the leveraging of US$ 5.5 million in funding and the production of 108 peer-reviewed publications. Key achievements include the establishment of a phenology monitoring network in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and the delivery of training institutes on climate adaptation and remote sensing. The report also details the 'Assessment of research and institutional needs to cope with the effects of Climate Change on Andean Biodiversity' project and various international collaborations to integrate climate science into policy.
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Document type: Report
Microbial Exposure and Health Assessments in Sanitation Technologies and Systems
The report provides a comprehensive health risk assessment of sanitation technologies, categorizing them into functional groups: user interface, collection and storage/treatment, conveyance, semi-centralized treatment, and reuse/disposal. It identifies critical exposure points for users, workers, farmers, and the community, emphasizing that technical barriers (like storage time and pH elevation) must be combined with socio-cultural behavioral changes (such as hand-washing) to effectively break the cycle of disease transmission. The document analyzes specific technologies—ranging from open defecation and pit latrines to advanced wastewater treatment plants—and provides epidemiological evidence on their impact on diarrhoeal diseases and helminth infections.
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Document type: Report
Clean and Green School Buses
The document highlights the role of school buses in reducing overall transportation emissions compared to private vehicles, while warning that diesel engine idling consumes significant fuel and poses severe health risks to children. It promotes an idle reduction curriculum developed by the Utah Clean Cities program to mitigate these impacts.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Climate Change and Local Public Health in the United States: Preparedness, Programs and Perceptions of Local Public Health Department Directors
The document assesses how communication and marketing interventions can be used within a public health ecologic model to drive population behavior change and policy support for climate change adaptation and prevention. It identifies the need for translational research to optimize the effectiveness of these messages and target audiences.
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Document type: Research paper
Bush Mandate Centralizes Regulatory Power, Endangers Public
The report analyzes the impact of Executive Order 13422, which modifies the regulatory process by placing political appointees as gatekeepers in federal agencies and expanding the review of non-binding guidance documents by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). It contends that the order shifts the focus of regulation toward addressing 'market failures' and aggregate cost-benefit analyses, potentially delaying critical safety and health protections and increasing political interference in science-based regulatory processes.
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Document type: Report
Hushing Health Hazards of Climate Change
In October 2007, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) heavily edited testimony from CDC Director Julie Gerberding intended for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. The edits removed seven pages of content that linked climate change to specific health risks for the American public, including increased mortality from heat waves, worsening asthma and allergies in children, and the potential for exotic vector-borne diseases. While the White House claimed the CDC's statements were not in line with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings, an IPCC lead author and a Senate committee comparison asserted that the original testimony was scientifically accurate and consistent with IPCC reports.
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Document type: Case study
PREVENTION OF AIR POLLUTION FROM SHIPS
The report evaluates the human health impacts of reducing sulphur in marine fuels, comparing a 'no action' scenario with two control options: a 0.1% sulphur limit within 200 nautical miles of coastlines and a global 0.5% sulphur limit. It estimates that these controls could reduce global premature mortality from international shipping by 50-60% by 2012, saving between 41,500 and 50,000 lives annually. Using US EPA cost methodology, the Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) values these societal benefits at approximately $225 to $275 billion per year.
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Document type: Report
FACT SHEET Country/region: Asia and Africa Project name: Advancing Capacity to Support Climate Change Adaptation
The ACCCA project, running from 2007 to 2008, implemented 19 pilot actions across 17 countries in Asia and Africa to build capacity for climate change adaptation. The project focused on multidisciplinary risk communication, stakeholder engagement, and the integration of adaptation strategies into policy and local action plans. Key activities included identifying climate risks, assessing knowledge gaps, and developing risk communication materials to support decision-making in sectors such as agriculture, water management, and public health.
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Document type: Fact sheet