MedPage Today Report: Diesel Fumes Change Brain Activity
March 10, 2008: Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today, reports that in a small crossover study performed in The Netherlands, researchers recorded marked changes in brain wave activity when volunteers were exposed to diesel fumes compared with exposure to filtered air. While further research is needed, this study suggests that pollution by diesel fumes is not just a question of noxious odors, but may also have effects on the brain.

AIRNow: Air Quality News site
Vermont's greenhouse gas emissions, on a per captia basis, are nearly double the national average. This implicates vehicle exhaust--including idling--which negatively affects Vermont's air quality. While generally good, there is a concern of air quality in town centers, especially in Chittenden County, which has increasingly strayed into the Moderate and even Unhealthy catagories. AIRNow provides daily air quality conditions and forecasts, including Particles and Ozone readings, both nationally and locally.

ICTA: Report on In-Car Air Pollution
In 2000, the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) compiled a report on the assessment of the air quality inside automobile passenger compartments. The report finds that air pollution levels may reach higher concentrations inside cars than out. Part of the report summary states: "Elevated in-car pollution concentrations particularly endanger children, the elderly, and people with asthma and other respiratory conditions.While it receives little attention, in-car air pollution may pose one of the greatest modern threats to human health."

Kids' lower IQ scores linked to prenatal pollution
In a study released July 20, 2009, researchers for the first time have linked air pollution exposure before birth with lower IQ scores in childhood, bolstering evidence that smog may harm the developing brain. The results are in a study of 249 children of New York City women who wore backpack air monitors for 48 hours during the last few months of pregnancy. They lived in mostly low-income neighborhoods in northern Manhattan and the South Bronx. They had varying levels of exposure to typical kinds of urban air pollution, mostly from car, bus and truck exhaust.

OTHER NO-IDLING CAMPAIGNS

U.S. Department of Energy / Clean Cites Coalition draft: Idling: Cruising the Fuel Inefficiency Expressway - Sept. 2009
By Dr. Linda Gaines and Terry Levinson of the Center for Transportation Research Argonne National Laboratory.
Discussion Paper for Clean Cities Coalitions and Stakeholders to Develop Strategies for the Future. This 16 page document (currently in draft form) thoroughly decimates the issue of idling, mostly from the standpoint of heavy-duty diesel, which, pound for pound, easily has the most negative impact. Technologies that reduce idling are spelled out (including financial incentives) as well as regulations and legislation, and outreach and education. There are also links to idling reduction campaigns in many states.

Natural Resources, Canada, Vehicle Idling Campaign resource
A complete resource of information, facts, documents and graphics to enable anyone to run their own idling campaign.

10% Challenge, Burlington, VT
The 10% Challenge is a voluntary program to raise public awareness about global climate change and to encourage households and businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 percent. It is a great resource for information about and participation in saving energy for homes and businesses, recycling and composting, and alternative transportation.The 10% Challenge is also a no-idle campaign resource with information and literature to start one's own campaign.

Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection "Idling Is Fuelish" Campaign
Connecticut has an all motor vehicle idling reduction law of 3 minutes. They also have a comprehensive educational no idling campaign. The most impressive no idling presentation I've seen is the "Wastebusters - Idling Myths" video: a take off on the Discovery Channel's Mythbusters program. Very educational and entertaining.

VERDANT VIGILANTE: Idling a Hot Topic in NYC Media
George Pakenham is a wall street banker and is also an environmental activist focused on idling in New York City. Typically he will talk to drivers that are idling while parked to educate about the negative impacts of idling and inform them of New York City's idling restriction law (seldom enforced). The "Verdant Vigilante", as Mr. Pakenham has come to be known, has recently gotten some big media attention: featured in The New Yorker (available to subscribers only; companion 12 minute video to the article here), interviewed on National Public Radio's, Here and Now (scoll down page to "No More Engine Idling"), and a spot on WCBS TV, New York. Mr. Pakenham has recently started a website for his Verdant Vigilante campaign. He plans a documentary film on his idling activism, titled: Idle Threat.

Idle-Free Philly has a unique and interactive way of tackling idling
With approval of the Clean Air Council, citizens can report sightings of parked trucks or buses running their engines in violation of Philadelphia's 5 minute idling law. How it works: Go to idlefreephilly.org (Or Call 877.853.1552). Click on the map where you see idling and report the problem. Air Management Services and the Clean Air Council will receive emails and can respond to the issue. The City of Philadelphia’s clean air agency can issue a ticket if enough information is provided, and the Clean Air Council will work with communities to address idling hot spots to develop the most effective means of addressing the problem.

The city of Prince George, British Columbia, Canada uses the same method with Idling Hotspot Map as part of the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable campaign.