10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Abstract View
Effects of Diesel Truck Regulations on Environmental Justice in a Major Freight Corridor in California
REGAN PATTERSON, Robert Harley, University of California, Berkeley
Abstract Number: 1685 Working Group: Air Quality in Megacities: from Sources to Control
Abstract Freight transportation is a major source of diesel pollution in California. Communities in freight corridors are disproportionately burdened by exposure to diesel truck exhaust and related health impacts. Residents in these corridors are predominately nonwhite and low-income. To reduce diesel truck emissions, California regulations require an accelerated adoption of control technologies. The phase-in of diesel particle filters (DPFs) began in 2010, and all heavy-duty trucks were required to be equipped with DPFs by January 1, 2014. While these regulations have resulted in emission reductions, the impact on exposure disparities has not been analyzed.
In this study, we model the effect of control technologies on equity. This study focuses on the major freight corridor in East Oakland that serves the Port of Oakland, Oakland International Airport, and industrial facilities. Heavy-duty trucks are prohibited on the highway (I-580) located in the Oakland Hills and must travel on the highway (I-880) in the Flatlands, which are predominately nonwhite, low-income communities. We estimate nitrogen oxides (NOx) and black carbon (BC) emissions on both highways before (2009) and after (2015) the adoption of control technologies. We use the RLINE dispersion model to simulate the effect on concentrations at Census block level in two neighborhoods downwind of the I-880 and I-580. We estimate population intake and changes in indicators of environmental justice and equality to quantify the impact of diesel truck regulations on health benefits and exposure disparities between communities.