Melbourne’s city council announces a health emergency, alleging that truck pollution is to blame for the city’s high disease rates

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Yes, in December 2018, the City of Melbourne declared a health emergency due to the impact of truck pollution on community health and wellbeing.

The city found that exposure to diesel exhaust from trucks was linked to elevated rates of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, asthma, and even premature death. The city vowed to take urgent action to reduce air pollution from truck traffic, such as introducing a truck curfew, expanding the clean air zone, and investing in cleaner vehicles.