This Season Offers a Particular Danger from Idling Engines

To the Editor,

The American Lung Association’s just released annual “state of the air” report for Massachusetts gives Essex County air quality the worst grade for "fine particle" pollution — the state’s only “F.” 

While the authors note that increasing spikes in particle pollution in Massachusetts are “almost entirely because of wildfires,” the overall picture for other measured pollutants like ozone isn't rosy. 

All of this is a reminder that, aside from climate change, there are still many health and environmental hazards associated with burning fossil fuels and thus many reasons for moving to renewable energy and finding other ways to reduce carbon pollution.  

Thus, my annual springtime plea: please, people, don't sit in your cars with the engines running, especially on beautiful spring, summer and fall days.  None of us, particularly children and older people, want to be or should be breathing these unnecessary pollutants. 

Another reminder: there is a Massachusetts law that limits unnecessary engine idling to five minutes.  This link gets you to an information sheet about the law (https://www.mass.gov/doc/massdep-faq-the-massachusetts-anti-idling-law/download).  It says nothing about enforcement and penalties, but perhaps we can hope that health and police officials will inform motorists about killing their engines through public information and gentle reminders on our streets.  

Mike Dyer

Essex