EPA Air Toxics Survey: Initial Results

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released initial data from an air toxics monitoring survey that began earlier this year. Of the 63 schools selected in 22 states, Sto Rox and South Allegheny school districts in Allegheny County were chosen. The goal is to understand whether outdoor toxic air pollution poses health concerns, especially for school children.

EPA spokeswoman Bonnie Smith says both of those schools were “below levels of short-term health concerns”, but she says there is still more testing to be done through the fall to investigate long-term health concerns. Monitors that were installed in August are to identify various air toxics, both in gas and particle form. The EPA has identified 187 distinct air toxics. Smith says none of the surveyed schools has received a result that’s above levels of short-term health concerns, but she says there is still more data to be collected. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/schoolair.