California Medical Association Supports CARB's Efforts To Clean Unhealthy Air

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 11 Dec 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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The California Medical Association, as part of the Health Network for Clean Air, announced its support of proposed regulations from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce unhealthy diesel emissions. The CMA signed a joint letter to the CARB encouraging the implementation of the regulations to reduce emissions from diesel vehicles.

"Physicians are concerned about the negative health effects of harmful air pollutants," said Dr. Janet Abshire, a general practice physician who sits on the Public and Environmental Health Committee of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society. "We see patients everyday who suffer from respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. It is time for physicians to play an increased role in the solutions to this problem."

The regulations would require existing heavy-duty diesel vehicles to be upgraded or replaced to comply with specified particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen emission standards. These harmful pollutants are associated with increased emergency room and doctor's office visits and contribute greatly to health disparities in communities along the goods movement chain. CARB staff estimates that the implementation of these regulations will reduce premature deaths by roughly 9,000 between 2010 and 2025.

At the CMA's annual House of Delegates meeting in October, physicians once again addressed the issue by passing a resolution (715-08) that calls on CMA to "support efforts to significantly reduce the amount of particulate pollution from diesel sources." Dr. Abshire will testify about the public health impacts of poor air quality at the public hearing on these regulations scheduled for December 11 and 12 in Sacramento.

The California Medical Association represents more than 35,000 physicians in all modes of practice and specialties. CMA is dedicated to the health of all patients in California.

California Medical Association