Diesel Emissions on Commuter Ferries Harmful to Health

I am curious why commuter ferries are not required to be in compliance with California's Proposition 65 - Article 6: Clear and Reasonable Warnings regarding their carcinogenic diesel emissions as hazardous?

California Prop 65 is self-regulating, and not enforced, therefore rendering it useless. I have posted a response on that from the OEHHA below. Emissions from diesel-fueled engines currently include over 40 substances that are listed by the U.S. Environ-mental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and by the ARB as TACs.

"Diesel Exhaust" itself is listed as a toxic air contaminant. acetaldehyde acrolein aniline antimony compounds arsenic benzene beryllium compounds biphenyl bis[2-ethylhexyl]phthalate 1,3-butadiene cadmium chlorine Chlorobenzene chromium compounds cobalt compounds cresol isomers cyanide compounds dioxins and dibenzofurans Dibutylphthalate ethyl benzene Formaldehyde Hexane inorganic lead manganese compounds mercury compounds methanol methyl ethyl ketone naphthalene Nickel 4-nitrobiphenyl phenol phosphorus POM including PAHs and their derivatives Propionaldehyde selenium compounds Styrene Toluene xylene isomers and mixtures o-xylenes m-xylenes p-xylenes

The American Lung Association states that 70% of Cancer risk comes from diesel exhaust, causing premature deaths in more than 14,000 Californians exposed to diesel pollution over a lifetime.

Here are a few statistics just posted by the California Air Resources Board:

• The amount of pollutants emitted DAILY from California harbor craft = 3 tons of diesel soot and 73 tons of NOx
• Harbor craft vessels operating in California is estimated to be 4,200
• The number of CA ferries, excursion vessels, tugboats and towboats that will require emissions reduction under a new ARB ruling to cut emissions by 50% by 2015 = only 600 The public should be informed of this serious health risk, especially since hundreds of people are exposed per day, including school children on a repeated daily basis.

Also, ferry workers are being exposed all day long. Signs should be posted on the boats.

- René Rodriguez

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