The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced plans to distribute nearly $5.4 million in grants and financing to efforts that aim to reduce diesel emissions in the northeastern United States.

The agency released a request for proposals from organizations looking to start projects to reduce diesel emissions. The EPA said plans include distributing the grants in partnership with the Northeast Diesel Collaborative, a Boston-based organization with a mission to reduce air pollution. According to the EPA, the fine particles in diesel exhaust pose serious health risks, including asthma and other respiratory symptoms.

The EPA also reports it is awarding more than $100,000 to Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, a nonprofit association of air quality agencies.

The nonprofit plans to use the grant to install advanced pollution control equipment on up to five pieces of construction equipment operating in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.