'GMA' Puts Heat on Bus Exhaust

A study conducted by a Yale University researcher suggests that children are being exposed to unhealthy levels of diesel exhaust fumes from school buses. The researcher, John Wargo, gathered the data by placing monitors on children who ride school buses. Wargo’s study, “Children’s Exposure to Diesel Exhaust on School Buses,” was the basis for a report on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday, Feb. 7. Based on the results of his study, Wargo recommended that drivers reduce their idling time at schools and encouraged fleets to invest in “clean diesel” buses that burn low-sulfur fuel and are equipped with particulate traps. He also suggested that routes be optimized to minimize ride times. A similar study was released last year by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Titled “No Breathing in the Aisles,” the study examined air quality on four school buses in Los Angeles. The report, characterized as “flawed” by many members of the school bus industry, was widely publicized by major news outlets.