Puget Sound air quality improving, more can be done

May 25, 2005 — While the Puget Sound region has made much progress in clearing the air, it still contains toxic pollution that poses significant health risks, according to the State of the Air in Washington 2005 report released recently by the American Lung Association of Washington (ALAW).

The report cites diesel exhaust in particular as a serious threat to public health, but lauds voluntary programs being implemented throughout the region to reduce diesel emissions.

Through the Diesel Solutions program, for example, three-quarters of the school districts in the Puget Sound region are retrofitting old buses with cleaner technology, or switching to cleaner-burning, ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

The report is a joint production by ALAW and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

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