Why are school districts in non-attainment areas given first priority in the distribution of funds?
The fine particles in diesel exhaust (known as particulate matter) can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause aggravated asthma, lung damage, and other serious health problems. Non-attainment areas are termed “non-attainment” because they already have levels of particulate matter and/or ozone in the air that exceed federal standards. These high levels of pollutants result in higher risk to individuals in those areas. Thus non-attainment areas have been given first priority in an effort to achieve the greatest health benefits from the available funding.
