EDCO Disposal Corporation is accused of failing to do diesel exhaust tests in 2005 and 2006. Diesel exhaust is a contaminant gas found in places with equipments that use diesel. Nowadays, companies are using more diesel, because it is cheaper.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor more than one million workers in the U.S. are exposed to diesel exhaust. This involves serious health risks, from nausea and headaches to respiratory diseases and cancer. Diesel exhaust also contains other harmful gases and more than forty carcinogens.
Not only workers are affected, but regular people as well. Although the exposure is lower outside a working environment, heavy traffic in the cities and highways does cause a great damage. The Air Resources Board says that small particles of diesel exhaust shorten the lives of more than 70 thousand Americans every year.
The president of EDCO only now admits that they didn’t follow every law, but he assures they are doing everything correct up to 2009. Apparently we can put a price on our health. The damage is already done; no amount of money can take back the harm done.
As for the fine, more than half went to the California Air Pollution Control Fund for research. A small part went to the Peralta Community College District, for education classes on fuel emission. And the last part went to the California Financing Authority for loan programs for cars that need to comply with state regulations. Cero went to health programs, which is the most affected area when companies ignore the laws.
Our health is in the hands of people that if they mess up they just say “Oh, yes, we forgot about that part, but we are won’t do it from now on”. Four years of doing it wrong can’t be washed off in one day or with one big check.
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