Democracy on the Edge: A Discussion of Political Issues in America by Terry Amrhein

Author:Terry Amrhein [Amrhein, Terry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Politics
ISBN: 9781634134323
Google: oAesCQAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 25694204
Publisher: Mill City Press, Inc.
Published: 2015-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Several years ago, I worked near San Jacinto (where Sam Houston defeated General Santa Anna during the Texas Revolution of 1836) and Deer Park, Texas. I remember looking out across Texas City where the petroleum plants are located to where a gray haze loomed over the area. This was not every day, mind you, but it did occur on many occasions during the six months I was there. It was obvious that the air in that area was not healthy; anybody looking at the cloud would know that.

All of these areas could represent a health hazard to children. Schools are where most children spend a lot of time, and children are more susceptible to foreign substances than adult bodies because they are smaller and still growing. Exposure today may not manifest itself for years out into the future.

Following analysis using the computer simulation, USA Today joined with scientists from John Hopkins University and the University of Maryland to take actual air samples at schools. They selected 95 schools in 30 states. About two-thirds of the schools, i.e. 63 schools, were selected from among the worst schools found from the computer simulation. The other one-third, 32 schools, were selected from schools having the cleanest air. The results showed that 64 schools had high levels of air contamination, some higher than what their state considers acceptable. These schools are located along the Louisiana coast, as well as in affluent areas like McLean, Va., and Lakewood, Colo. At seven of the worst schools, the analysis showed concentrations of the heavy metals manganese and chromium, known to cause mental disorders, as well as benzene and naphthalene, known carcinogens, at levels well above the EPA thresholds for long-term exposure.

The Environmental Protection Agency has air quality standards for 187 air pollutants as part of the Clean Air Act. However, the EPA had never used its database of air emissions and the computer simulation to establish where air pollution may be occurring for schools. Following the USA Today article, the EPA announced that it would commence a study of outdoor air quality at 63 schools in 22 states. The study would take about three years to complete and in order to get an accurate evaluation of the air quality, it would require sampling for duration of 60 days at each site.

In June 2011, the EPA announced the results of the air quality sampling. In most of the schools, air quality was below the established levels for air pollutants. However, all areas were not judged to have satisfactory air quality. For example, in East Elementary School in East Liverpool, Ohio, in Warren Elementary School in Marietta, Ohio, and Neale Elementary School in Vienna, W.Va., air sampling showed high levels of manganese above the allowable exposure limits. Also in Follansbee Middle School and Jefferson Primary School in Follansbee, W.Va., high levels of benzene, arsenic, and benzopyrene were discovered. The EPA announced that they are commencing further sampling at these areas. Additionally, the EPA is commencing the second round of school sampling late in 2011.

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