Factories, cars, and fire all produce pollutants but for some schools in our area those toxins are being dumped over the heads of our children. That’s why the EPA is studying the amount of toxins in 60 schools in the
United States. Four of those schools are in
Birmingham and Tarrant.
North Birmingham Elementary School,
Lewis Elementary School,
Riggins School, and
Tarrant Elementary School are all being tested. Just this past week, the first sets of results were released. They are short term exposure results and they show little risk to toxic pollutants.
“The short term screening levels are levels that you would say are acceptable for up to a few weeks. If you were exposed to that level continually for 24 hours a day,” says Paul Wagner and environmental scientist for the EPA.
The study also shows that if toxin Acrolein levels continue at the rate they are there could be long term problems.
“Acrolein is one of those chemicals that can exacerbate asthma in children,” says Wagner.
The EPA says this toxin comes from burning things, cigarettes, and fuel. Cars are the biggest contributor to this toxin level.
“We would recommend that parents and buses at schools turn off the engines while they are waiting for the kids to come out,” says Wagner.
This toxin can cause your eyes, nose, and throat to itch and your lungs to burn. The final results of this test won’t be available until later this year.
