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Diesel emissions more damaging than first thought - 28th February 2005
Diesel emissions could be responsible for over 20,000 Americans dying sooner, according to the US Clear Air Task Force.
The research concluded that the states with the most deaths per year were New York with 2,332, California with 1,784 and Pennsylvania with 1,170. New Jersey ranked fourth with 880 deaths.
The scientists based their research on data of diesel pollution from past analyses of general air pollution-related health problems.
Conrad Schneider, co-author of the report, said that new US regulations aimed at making new diesel engines cleaner would have no effect on the high numbers of older vehicles.
"Those are great rules, they will hold new engines to higher standards. ... In the meantime, we're stuck with a legacy of dirty diesel engines," said Mr Schneider, advocacy director for Clean Air Task Force, a coalition of regional and local groups.
The environmental group is calling for new regulations that encourage the retro-fitting of existing diesel engines to make them cleaner.
The US Environmental Protection Agency last year required new diesel engines on trucks and buses to cut in half the amount of nitrogen oxides produced. Further cuts are planned for 2007.
