The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is testing the air quality around schools according to a recent article in USA Today. The initial findings are not heartening.
Testing has not found “dangerous levels of pollution” in any location. However, there were a number of schools where levels of toxic chemicals were found in higher concentrations than the federal government recommends for long-term exposure. The article details what chemicals were found at schools around the country.
In a May article published in Health Affairs, researchers found schools with the highest levels of air pollution had the lowest attendance rates and the highest proportion of students who did not meet state educational testing requirements. Researchers recommended that air quality be considered when choosing sites for new schools and that pollution levels around existing schools be examined and improved if necessary.
