Report: Diesel Blamed for 84% of Cancer Risk in Southern California

A scientific study by regional air regulators in Southern California indicates that, although overall cancer risk from air pollution has declined 15% since 1999, air quality in the Los Angeles Basin remains among the poorest in the nation and area residents suffer from highly elevated cancer rates as a result.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District's Mates III study, which analyzed air quality samples from 15 sites across the region, shows that airborne carcinogens remain dangerously high across the Southland, particularly near ports and along truck-laden transportation corridors.

Whereas an acceptable lifetime cancer risk is considered to be 1 to 10 persons per million, scientists estimate that for residents near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the risk of getting cancer is as high as 2,900 persons per million.

Researchers primarily blame diesel exhaust, which accounts for a massive 84% of the region's cancer risk, an increase from the 71% reported in the SCAQMD's 1998-1999 Mates II study. "Diesel exhaust remains public enemy No. 1," said Barry Wallerstein, executive director of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, as reported by the Long Beach Press-Telegram.

However, emission-reduction programs at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are having a positive impact, according to the report.

Clean Energy actively supports the Ports' new comprehensive strategy to cut air pollution and reduce health risks, known as the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). The plan includes a truck replacement program which will replace the Ports' 'dirty' diesel trucks with a new generation of clean or retrofitted vehicles within five years.

In December 2007, Clean Energy opened a major new liquefied natural gas (LNG) truck fueling station in direct support of CAAP. The new station is the first of three that Clean Energy plans to build to serve new port drayage trucks powered by clean-burning LNG fuel, which significantly reduces harmful tailpipe emissions.

Read More

• The South Coast AQMD's Multiple Air Toxics Exposure Study III (MATES III)
• Port proximity raises health risks, The Long Beach Press-Telegram
• Air improves in region, but not enough, The Orange County Register
• Cancer risk from toxic air drops, The Los Angeles Times

About Clean Energy
Clean Energy (Nasdaq: CLNE), based in Seal Beach, Calif., is the leading provider of natural gas (CNG and LNG) for transportation in North America. It has a broad customer base in the refuse, transit, ports, shuttle, taxi, intrastate and interstate trucking, airport and municipal fleet markets, fueling more than 15,000 vehicles daily at over 175 strategic locations across the United States and Canada. Information at: www.cleanenergyfuels.com