The Administration's new rule will require diesel fuel to contain less sulfur and will require cleaner diesel engines. Diesel engines from trucks and buses currently spew out 100 times more sooty particles than comparable gasoline engines. In addition to soot, they are a major contributor to smog. Diesel exhaust is not merely foul-smelling and unsightly, it's also a threat to public health. The health risk is greater for children, the elderly, people who have respiratory problems, and people who live or work near diesel exhaust sources.
Diesel exhaust increases susceptibility to asthma , allergies and respiratory illness.
Studies have also linked diesel exhaust to cancer. The Clinton Administration has already made major contributions to improving air quality. It used new science to update the soot and smog rules, which will help protect the health of more than 100 million Americans who live in areas where the air is unsafe to breathe because of air pollution. The Administration also announced the toughest standards ever for reducing air pollution from automobile tailpipes . This is an excellent addition to the list of actions President Clinton and Vice President Gore have taken to make air cleaner for all of us.