EPA Monitors Air Outside 4 California Schools for Toxics

Posted on Mar 31, 2009 | Comments (1)

In an unprecedented effort to help protect children from toxic air pollution around schools, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced a list of schools, including four in California, that will undergo outdoor air monitoring. On March 31, 2009, EPA released a list of priority schools for air quality monitoring, as part of an initiative to understand whether outdoor toxic air pollution poses health concerns to schoolchildren.

The initial monitoring will take place at 62 schools in 22 states. As efforts to better regulate chemicals both in California and across the country move forward, this information will be critical in helping communities better understand the chemicals that children are exposed to when they go to school.

"As a mother, I understand that concerned parents deserve this information as quickly as we can gather and analyze it," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "EPA, state, and local officials are mobilizing to determine where elevated levels of toxics pose a threat, so that we can take swift action to protect our children at their schools."

The EPA will partner with state and local air pollution control agencies to:

    * collect samples of outdoor air near selected schools over 60 days,
    * analyze those samples for air toxics of potential concern,
    * report on levels of air toxics found and their potential for long-term health impacts,
    * evaluate actions that may be needed to reduce levels of pollutants of concern, and
    * take action as needed to ensure that nearby industries are in compliance with clean air regulations.

In California, the EPA will monitor:

* Pollutants to be measured have been selected based on emission sources in the vicinity of each school.

• 4,4-Methylenedianiline: A chemical compound used mainly for making polyurethane foams
• Carbonyls: Also known aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde and acetaldehyde).
• Cr+6: Hexavalent chromium
• Diisocyanates: Chemical compounds used in manufacturing foam-containing products; three of these compounds will be measured.
• Metals in PM10: Toxic metals contained in particulate matter that is 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller (e.g., lead, nickel and manganese).
• Metals in TSP: Toxic metals contained in total suspended particulate matter (e.g., lead, nickel and manganese).
• PAH: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (e.g., naphthalene, benzo(a)pyrene).
• VOC: Volatile Organic Compounds (e.g., benzene, vinyl chloride). 

For the full list of schools across the country and to learn more about this initiative, see the EPA's School Air Monitoring site.