Warmer summer temperatures could worsen air pollution by increasing concentrations of ground level ozone and other pollutants that make asthma and other respiratory diseases worse. Warmer ocean temperatures could increase bacterial contamination of shellfish. Longer summers could increase the incidence of Lyme disease carried by ticks and other insect borne diseases. Earlier snowmelts and higher temperatures could also cause more summertime droughts, such as the drought of 1999, threatening agricultural production, compromising water quality and impairing hydroelectric power generation. The death rate for asthma has tripled over the past 20 years.
Decisive action is needed now to protect human health.
The number one priority is to reduce the burning of fossil fuels, especially by coal-burning power plants and automobiles. The air in New York City is expected to be less smoggy next year when the Transit Authority will take delivery of 125 Orion VII hybrid buses. The diesel engine and soot filter for the buses' hybrid electric drive systems is designed to increase fuel economy and reduce bus emissions. Inc. Monday announced its partnership with Orion Bus Industries and Lockheed Martin Control Systems to provide the diesel engine and soot filter. The combination of these technologies will reduce bus emissions to a level below 15 grams nitrogen oxides per mile and 0.06 grams of particulate matter per mile.