Biodiesel offers the community a tremendous opportunity to seize the benefits of sustainable technology. In a recent study conducted by Clean Air Task Force, they concluded that there is a clear link between the air pollution caused by usage of dirty diesel and health effects attributed to fine particulate matter. This finding has an enormous impact, and shows diesel emissions attribute to higher rates of cancer, asthma, loss of labor, chronic bronchitis, heart attacks, and thousands deaths nationwide. At the center of this tragedy have been the urban communities across the county. The New York/New Jersey metropolitan area has the unfortunate burden to have the largest amount of deaths directed associated with diesel emissions. According to the New York department of health, New York City 's asthma rate is double the national average, but in low income and minority communities that number multiplies.

Biodiesel can effectively address both the concerns of industry and the community. FuelBio is excited about the possibly that biodiesel offers. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel, because unlike petroleum, the major feedstock can be grown according to need. Since biodiesel is organic in nature, it is also biodegradable, and is a hazardless material. Biodiesel is safer for people to breathe. Research conducted in the US shows biodiesel emissions have decreased levels of all target polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)and nitrited PAH compounds, as compared to petroleum diesel exhaust. PAH and nPAH compounds have been identified as potential cancer causing compounds. Targeted PAH compounds were reduced by 75 to 85 percent, with the exception of benzo(a)anthracene, which was reduced by roughly 50 percent. Target nPAH compounds were also reduced dramatically with biodiesel fuel, with 2-nitrofluorene and 1-nitropyrene reduced by 90 percent, and the rest of the nPAH compounds reduced to only trace levels. All of these reductions are due to the fact the biodiesel fuel contains no aromatic compounds.

Read the New York City Childhood Asthma Initiative's "Asthma Facts: Second Edition" in PDF format by clicking here.

Read a chart showing Asthma Hospitalizations in New York City by UHF Neighborhood Between Ages 0 and 14 in PDF format by clicking here.

Read The Clean Air Task Force's "Diesel and Health in America: The Lingering Threat" in PDF format by clicking here.

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