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10-year study shows how air pollution fosters heart disease; accelerated plaque build-up in arteries

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Long-term exposure to particulate air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, but the biological process has not been understood. Participant-specific pollutant concentrations averaged over the years 2000–10 ranged from 9.2–22.6 The study is published in The Lancet. and NO x between 1999 and 2012. μg PM 2.5 /m

Pollution 199
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Decrease in air pollution associated with decrease in respiratory symptoms among children

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Decreases in ambient air pollution levels over the past 20 years in Southern California were associated with significant reductions in bronchitic symptoms in children with and without asthma, according to a study by researchers at the University of Southern California published in JAMA. Kiros Berhane, Ph.D., —Berhane et al.

Pollution 150
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FedEx Converts 92 Delivery Trucks to Hybrids, Expanding Hybrid-Electric Fleet by 50%

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An added benefit of the conversion program is that it not only reduces pollution but also extends the life of the vehicles, helping to eliminate waste production and creating a reduce-and-reuse program. The standard FedEx trucks used in the retrofit program were 2000 or 2001 models with 300,000 to 500,000 miles driven.

Convert 170
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California ARB Seeks Further Reductions of Diesel Emissions at State Rail Yards

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BNSF has been operating four liquefied natural gas yard locomotives in downtown Los Angeles since the mid-1990s. Both pollutants are particularly harmful to children, the elderly and those who have preexisting health problems. NO x helps create ground-level ozone, or smog.

Diesel 170
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California Energy Commission awards more than $23M to encourage use of alternative transportation fuels

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The ethanol will be mixed with conventional gasoline for a lower-carbon, less-polluting fuel. Sysco Food Services of Los Angeles, Inc., This station along the I-215 corridor in the Inland Empire will serve vehicles moving goods at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, and will complement clean truck programs at the ports.

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Sandia study finds fuel cell barges may be attractive lower-cost cold-ironing solution for some types of vessels at some ports

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Auxiliary power to docked ships, usually provided by on-board diesel engines, is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, accounting for one-third to one-half of the in-port emissions attributed to ocean-going vessels. Los Angeles, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Tacoma, Wash.;

Fuel 191
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Devil in the Details: World Leaders Scramble To Salvage and Shape Copenhagens UNFCCC Climate Summit

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February also saw the publication of a Los Angeles Times interview with US Secretary of Energy Steven Chu ( earlier post ), in which he voiced concern that the effects of climate change could decimate California’s agriculture as well as its urban water supplies.

Climate 236