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USA
Today releases rankings of schools based on potential toxic emissions
in the air The
December 8, 2008 editions of USA Today
detailed potential toxic releases near 127,800 schools across the country
in a report entitled "The Smokestack
Effect: Toxic Air and America's Schools." The
report, based on information in 2005, uses the toxics release inventories
(TRI) that chemical plants are required to keep. It then extrapolates
a model that indicates what schools are located within proximity of
a plant known to have the chemicals. Schools are ranked by percentiles,
with a higher number being better. The
TRI details what amount of a particular chemical known to be on hand
and purchased at the plant was released through smokestacks, what part
was released as waste, what part was disposed of down the sewers and
what part of the chemical was used in a manufactured product. "People have to understand that science is sophisticated
and our testing is more sensitive than ever today, so when we look for
these pollutants, we can find them," said John Van Raalte, certified
industrial hygienist with the Occupational and Environmental Health
Center of Eastern New York in Guilderland. Pollution is measured in terms of particulates
and gas concentrations in the air. Schools in New York are required to
have air handling units that circulate the ventilation in the building
and filter the air. At least 10 percent fresh air is required to supplement
the systems. He said most typical school filtration units remove particulates,
such as dust, mold and dirt. The amount of particulates removed
is measured by the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value ) level
of the filter. The higher the level, the smaller the size of particulates
that are removed. There are more sophisticated, carbon-activated
and very expensive systems available that also purify odors and gases
from the air. However, while they may work well for
the inside of a building, they would do nothing for the air on playgrounds,
at parks and at individual homes. He
also noted that measuring pollution is difficult because it is based
on the prevailing winds. If they flow away from a school on a particular
day, then the pollution readings would not be measurable. No surprise to anybodyHe noted that the USA Today report
should be no surprise to anybody. "When you live in an area with
more industry, including gas stations, dry cleaners, welding shops and
the like, there is going to be measurable pollution," he added. The report in USA Today indicates that a model was used to predict the wind flow of smokestack pollution using information like jet streams and other meteorological measures. Actual air monitoring was done at 95
of the 127,800 schools ranked in the report. Van Raalte said our society is much
healthier today than at any time in the past. Cancer rates are declining
for the first time in memory while life expectancies are climbing. "We are living in a much less
polluted world than 30 or even 20 years ago," he said. "Chemical
plants are healthier to be around than they were then." He noted that plants spend millions
on pollution controls such as scrubbers in the smokestacks. In general,
businesses are responsible corporate citizens. "Does that mean we can stay there
is no pollution? Absolutely not. It will always be there because of
the decisions that we have made in our society and our lifestyles,"
he added. "Trace amounts of chemicals are
not necessarily going to be detrimental to our health; there may well
be a dose that does not affect us." For example, where a family decides to live and employees chose to work determines the risk. Chemical and manufacturing plants are allowed to locate in particular areas of a community.
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