Biodiesel Facts

  • Children are particularly susceptible to diesel emissions because they breathe at higher rates than adults and their bodies are still developing. As they wait on the curb, play near idling buses, or ride inside the school bus, children are exposed to diesel soot and exhaust fumes every school day. On average, diesel emissions are 10 times more concentrated inside school buses than they are outside. Source: Yale University, "Children's Exposures to Diesel Exhaust on School Buses," 2002
  • Diesel emissions contain more than 40 cancer-causing chemicals, and it is estimated that diesel causes 70% of all airborne cancer risk. Source: California Air Resources Board
  • Biodiesel reduces air toxins, carbon monoxide, soot, small particles, and hydrocarbon emissions, reducing the cancer-risk contribution of diesel up to 90% with pure biodiesel. Since the production process of biodiesel takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, the net carbon dioxide from both production and use of biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions by more than 75%. Source: EPA and USDA studies
  • Despite harmful diesel emissions, school buses are still the safest way - 13 times safer than other modes of transportation - for children get to and from school. Source: Transportation Research Board, "The Relative Risks of School Travel," 2002
  • Biodiesel comes from American farm crops, such as soy and canola, and therefore supports both the American economy and our need for greater energy independence.
  • Biodiesel can be blended with petroleum diesel at any ratio. Even blends of 20% biodiesel to 80% diesel (B20) significantly reduce the overall toxicity.
  • Biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have fully completed and passed the Tier I and Tier II health effects testing for the Clean Air Act and is the only alternative fuel registered with the EPA as both a fuel and fuel additive.
  • The EPA's Clean School Bus USA shares a similar mission and makes grant funding available for schools to take the necessary steps of cleaning their school bus fleets.
  • Healthy Child, Healthy World, a national organization dedicated to educating the public about environmental toxins that affect children's health, supports CSB's efforts and shares in its mission.