Press Release

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January 22, 2004

East Bay residents can hear from experts about how heavy diesel truck traffic through their neighborhoods could be causing serious health problems.

The West Contra Costa County Asthma Coalition will hold a meeting addressing the health effects of diesel and its relationship to asthma on January 27 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The meeting, which is open to the general public, will be held at the Nevin Community Health Center, 598 Nevin Avenue in Richmond. Guests attending the meeting include Gina Solomon, M.D., Senior Scientist, Natural Resources Defense Council, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, U.C. San Francisco and Tim Carmichael, President of the Coalition for Clean Air, Sacramento, California. (For more information call 925-313-6764.)

"We are urging the community to attend this meeting because diesel exhaust is a serious public health risk. The community needs to be informed about the health effects of diesel exhaust. We need to begin working together on ways to reduce diesel emission in West Contra Costa," said Cedrita Claiborne, Senior Health Education Specialist with the West county Asthma Coalition and Community Action to Fight Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic lung condition characterized by difficulty in breathing and according to state air officials, diesel exhaust can trigger attacks in susceptible asthmatics.

"This is a very important issue for West Contra Costa where on average there are 11,000 diesel trucks that drive through each of the highways, freeways and parkways of San Pablo and Richmond daily. We strongly encourage residents to come out and provide their insight. This effort will not work without their participation," said Claiborne.

The meeting is hosted by the West County Asthma Coalition, a group of organization and individuals who are active in advocacy around asthma and the issues associated with this chronic disease. Light refreshments will be served.

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