Officials with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board have released for public comment draft rules intended to reduce air pollution at the ports of Oakland, San Francisco, Richmond, Benicia and Redwood City.
The district is seeking to require an inventory to estimate the tons of fine particles, sulfur dioxide and smog-forming gases from each of the five ports.
The district would then establish a series of measures to reduce the amount of pollution coming from ships, trucks and trains operating in the ports.
Air quality officials say the ports -- especially Oakland -- are a major source of toxic diesel soot that can aggravate the risk of asthma attacks and heart and lung problems.
The district is seeking to require an inventory to estimate the tons of fine particles, sulfur dioxide and smog-forming gases from each of the five ports.
The district would then establish a series of measures to reduce the amount of pollution coming from ships, trucks and trains operating in the ports.
Air quality officials say the ports -- especially Oakland -- are a major source of toxic diesel soot that can aggravate the risk of asthma attacks and heart and lung problems.