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I am writing to express my deep concern about the negative health
impacts of diesel pollution from trucks and buses and I urge the
California Air Resources Board to adopt the strongest regulation
possible to clean up the top sources of diesel particulate matter
in California.

Personally, I am a sufferer of Asthma caused by pollutants and
exhaust is a major culprit in my attacks.  I have racked up tons of
$$$ in doctor bills and have come close to death many times over
the health issues caused by the smog in our Central California air.
 The air quality of Bakersfield (KERN COUNTY) has become one of the
worst areas in California to live as we sit in a valley where smog
collects and has nowhere to go.  California has the worst air
quality in the nation and trucks and buses are a major contributor
to the particulate matter and ozone pollution that causes serious
health consequences. (As a woman, I am very concerned about the
effects that the particulate matter poses to my health and others.
Women especially, are affected by particulate matter as it is a
major source of lung cancer).  I have had my share of health
issues, but have found that breathing, or not breathing as the case
is at times; is the most frightening aspect, as not breathing,
always leads to premature death.  (I have had many asthma attacks
in the recent past...I'm talking recent months, and they have been
extreme).  NOONE should have to live with the fear of dying from
drowning from lack of oxygen on a daily basis.  Not getting enough
air in the body affects many other areas of a persons well-being. 
It affects brain function and affects other bodily functions.  I am
a 40 year old, full-time working mother of two young boys.  I have
suffered from bronchial asthma for the past 5 years and it
continually is worsening, to a point where my asthma medications
are no longer assisting my breathing (and I am on nearly everything
available for asthmatics).  As my asthma is quickly becoming worse,
I fear that I will not live to see my children have families of
their own and I will become a burden to society as I will soon find
myself on an oxygen tank and housebound.  I have a zest for life
and living it to the fullest, but the air quality has hampered my
contact with the outdoors in a major way.  If the air quality is
poor or near poor, I am unable to exercise outdoors or even
sometimes spend time in my car on the road.  I am seriously looking
for other areas of America to live due to the extreme pollution of
my area, but I am finding that there aren't many suitable areas to
go to.  Everywhere is being affected.  

Pollution from trucks and buses result in an estimated 1,500
premature deaths and more than 38,000 asthma attacks annually. 

Equally important, truck drivers are 1.5 to 2 times as likely as
workers not exposed to diesel exhaust to develop lung cancer during
their lives.  

To protect the health of all Californians, I urge the California
Air Resources Board to adopt the strongest possible diesel truck
regulations.

Please consider my voice. 

Thank you for your time. 

Heidi Combs
(661) 243-7523
Bakersfield, California