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EPA Releases Final Report on Air Toxics Near Life Skills of Trumbull County and the Academy of Arts and Sciences, Recommends Additional Monitoring

Release Date: 11/09/2010
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, cannon.phillippa@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA138

Chicago (Nov. 9, 2010) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced today that a report on the school air toxics monitoring data from Life Skills of Trumbull County and the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Warren, Ohio, has been posted on the Agency’s website.

Results of the air quality samples collected over a three-month period showed that levels of manganese, arsenic, lead, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene and other air toxics were low. However, EPA has determined that additional monitoring is needed at the schools, because key sources of emissions were not operating during the initial monitoring period. Those sources are now operating at typical levels, and EPA anticipates beginning the additional monitoring later this year.

The Schools Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative, which monitored outdoor air at 63 schools in 22 states, is designed to help EPA and state environmental agencies understand whether long-term exposure to air toxics poses health concerns for children and staff at the schools.

From Aug. 17 through Nov. 27, 2009, a monitor collected air samples near Life Skills of Trumbull Country and the Academy of Arts and Sciences. Manganese, arsenic, lead, benzene, and benzo(a)pyrene were the key pollutants of interest. During the monitoring period, EPA evaluated the concentrations to see if there was an issue with short-term exposures to manganese and other air toxics. Once the monitoring was complete, EPA analyzed the results to see if there was a concern from long-term exposures. In order to keep the community informed, EPA posted individual air sample results on the website throughout the monitoring period. The report is posted on EPA’s website at: https://www.epa.gov/schoolair.

Other schools being monitored in EPA Region 5 were St. Josaphat School, Chicago, Ill.; Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, East Chicago, Ind.; Jefferson Elementary School, Gary, Ind.; Pittsboro Elementary School, Pittsboro, Ind.; Lincoln Elementary in Warsaw, Ind.; Lincoln Park Elementary School, Muskegon, Mich.; Minnesota International Middle Charter School, Minneapolis, Minn.; East Elementary School, East Liverpool, Ohio; Elm Street Elementary School, Wauseon, Ohio; The Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and Warren Elementary School, Marietta, Ohio; and Whitwell Elementary School, Ironton, Ohio.
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