CARB is in the process of initiating an interagency agreement with CE-CERT to conduct a study to characterize school bus commute exposures to diesel particles and other air pollutants experienced by children while riding on school buses, waiting at bus stops, or waiting near idling buses. The study is intended to focus on diesel buses, but also includes natural gas buses as well.
Additional testing is needed to study exposures from buses equipped with particulate traps.
Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env. Because most California school buses are diesel powered, school children are potentially exposed to high concentrations of diesel particulates and other pollutants during their school bus commutes, and while waiting to board the buses as the buses are idling. A recently released study of in-bus conditions indicated elevated levels of toxic pollutants. As a result, CARB is initiating a research project in the South Coast Air Basin, more specifically, within the Los Angeles Unified School District, to characterize school bus commute exposures experienced by children while riding on buses, waiting at bus stops, or waiting near idling buses during loading. The study would obtain data needed to characterize the range of exposures experienced by children by covering a range of commute scenarios, sampling locations, such as bus stops and loading areas, and fuel types.