Pollution Can Be Decreased if Immobile Buses Shut Down Engine

Immobile or idle buses can help reduce pollution by up to 76 percent if their engines are completely turned off when not in use, according to HNGN.

The new study narrated the dangers of air pollution especially in areas that are near schools and other establishments and found that air quality can be greatly improved if idling school buses stopped turning their engines on. "The concentration of air pollutants near schools often significantly exceeds background levels in the community, particularly when idling school buses are present," said Patrick Ryan, lead study author "Anti-idling campaigns are frequently attempted to improve air quality, but until now, no one has evaluated how effective they are", he added.

Researchers involved in the study measured the air quality at four Cincinnati public schools before and after instituting 'anti-idling' campaigns, according to University Herald. All of the four schools involved in the study had asthma rates over 10 percent. The campaign was launched to bring awareness to the issue. Some of the efforts included education on the subject for both bus drivers and parents and some of the initiatives included a no-idling pledge, signs outside the schools and a student-created film.

After the campaign ended, air quality in the four schools was once again tested. The researchers found that the school that had the most buses decreased its noise particulate matter by 76 percent and elemental carbon also decreased by 63 percent. "The results of this study demonstrate, for the first time, that not idling is a simple and effective policy that can improve air quality at schools, especially schools with a large number of buses."