Environmental Toxins: EPA Gives Grant to Clean School Bus Project

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given a $94,876 grant to the American Lung Association to help fund a project to reduce diesel emissions from school buses in the Chicago area. The EPA says that the grant money will be used to retrofit 43 buses in school districts in Green Oaks, Mundelein, Grayslake, and Ingleside with equipment to reduce harmful diesel emissions.

EPA Awards $94,876 Grant to American Lung Association for Chicago Clean School Bus Project

The grant is a part of the EPA's Clean School Bus USA program. The program aims to reduce children's exposure to diesel exhaust and the amount of air pollution created by diesel school buses. "Breathing diesel exhaust is not good for anyone, especially children with asthma," said Mary A. Gade, a regional director for the EPA. "EPA is working with the American Lung Association to upgrade buses so students can breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives." Diesel emissions contain nitrogen oxides and fine particles that can cause respiratory and heart diseases and affect lung function and structure.