Department of Environment & Conservation
Jim Fyke, Commissioner

Tools and Resources - Air Quality Reports

5. AIR QUALITY REPORTS

National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals (NALGEP). Under Projects, choose Clean Air Communities Partnership Project, which identifies tools and incentives needed by local communities to meet national air quality objectives. Choose Clean Air Transportation Communities for local clean air innovations to improve air quality by reducing vehicle miles traveled and vehicular emissions.

National Governors Association Center for Best Practices report on State Innovations to Reduce Vehicle Emissions includes inspection and maintenance programs and programs to slow the growth in vehicle miles traveled, mitigate congestion and encourage the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles.

The National School Transportation Association (NSTA) was founded by school bus contractors to "promote and foster the highest degree of safety in the transportation of school children." NSTA works with federal and state legislatures, federal agencies, the public sector, and other interested parties to bring about industry-wide improvements in all areas of pupil transportation.

This study by Environment and Human Health, Inc., was designed to estimate the prevalence of asthma among children attending grades K-5 in Connecticut schools. A second goal was to obtain information regarding characteristics of school environments that may contribute to asthma or to asthma symptoms.

Most U.S. school buses are powered by diesel fuel. Diesel exhaust is comprised of very fine particles of carbon and a mixture of toxic gases, and federal agencies have classified diesel exhaust as a probable human carcinogen. This study by Environment and Human Health, Inc., concludes that the laws intended to control air pollution in the U.S. and Connecticut must be strengthened to protect the health of children.