To the surprise of many parents and some educators, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) began monitoring some schools for air quality analysis. Since individual states have their own ongoing monitoring system already in place, the logical question to ask is why the EPA decided to take this action. In some cases the monitoring began almost immediately, in other cases, air monitoring was be phased in over a three months period. The monitors were placed in the schools for sixty days and monitored the air on ten different days during that time.The EPA also nstalled equipment to measure wind speed and direction at the school locations.

The EPA is concerned about the long term effects on children who live near major industrial plants that emit potentially dangerous chemicals.

Twenty-thousand schools fit in this category. They are within a half-mile of such plants. Many are elementary or pre kindergarten schools.

Do such children suffer chronic, pollution-related illnesses? Is the cancer rate higher in these areas? Is the learning ability of children hindered by constant low-level emissions from these industrial plants? The EPA hopes to provide answers to these questions and expects that the results will allay the concerns of parents who live in these types of areas.

As to why the actions are being taken now, one big reason can be attributed to a special series of articles that appeared in USA Today. The series entitled, The Smoke Stack Effect Toxic Air and America's Schools, caught the attention of the EPA who insists it wants the American people to feel safe, especially the children.

Known dangerous chemicals that especially harm children are lead, ozone and particle pollution. The testing the EPA plans, will go farther than the more commonly known pollutants. The pollutants have been selected according to the emission sources near each school.

Alphbetically, using State Abbreviations, 22 in all.

AL-4,  CA-4,  IA-1,  IL1,  IN-4,  KS-1

KY-3,  LA-1,  MI-2,  MN-1,  MS-1,  NJ-2

OH-6,  OR-2,  PA-5,  SC-1,  TN-4,  TX-6

VA-1,  WA-2,  WV-3

USA Today's special reports gathered much attention. Many reporters in individual states became more interested in their State's assessment of their air quality. As a result, parents can find well-researched reports on the air quality in their neighborhood and township.

Picture - A parent walks his children home from school, in a Pennsylvania town. He is unsure what he will do if the air is found to be highly toxic, but moving his family to a safer area is not beyond his consideration.

Paulsboro High School, in New Jersey, is the only school in the Philadelphia area to be monitored.The football field is in the shadow of several oil refineries, and directly behind the football field is the Valero Refinery covering more than 900 acres. Nearby is the Nu Star Energy, Sunoco Refineries, Exxon Mobile Research Laboratory and Air Products Chemicals Group.It was chosen because of its proximity to heavy industry.

"It stinks here all the time, but my kids are fine as far as health issues go. As far as I know". Said Diane Benson. She has 3 children attending public school in Paulsboro.

Paulsboro's School Superintendent acknowledges while the residents are use to the refineries, the Valero refinery has leaked emissions severe enough to close the High School a few times in the past.

The Mayor went on record with the following comment. " New Jersey is a heavily industrialized state." and that there are documented respiratory health problems along the Delaware River and other areas.

Having lived in this area practically all of our lives, my husband and I are very familiar with refineries, air quality, pollution and their effects on our health. Refineries smell like sulphur all the time. Depending on what area of the refinery you are working in, you get to combine that rotten egg smell with various chemical aromas.

Outside of the immediate area of the refineries, in warm weather, the air quality can become hazardous. Warnings are issued through the public media to stay indoors, preferably under the air conditioning during certain hours of the day, especially during the hottest time of the day. The dreaded 3-H days of Hazy-Hot-and-Humid can really wear the body down if you suffer with any chronic condition. When the air feels like it is so thick and heavy from the car fumes, other polluting factors and hazy heat, it is very easy to make the choice to stay indoors.

South Jersey is sandwiched between Philadelphia, North Jersey and New York. It is a brutal combination of chemicals, smog and pollution. Add a healthy dose of pollen and mold and native New Jersians are not surprised to be bothered with chronic sinus problems or hay fever and asthma.

Transporters from other states seem to be able to stand up to it all for about two years. Then their bodies begin to get overloaded too and they join the ranks of the allergy sufferers.

Once the EPA completes its monitoring, it will determine long term health concerns regarding cancer, respiratory and neurological potentials. Respiratory and neurological problems are the most non-cancer effects from air toxins.

If the testing reveals a low potential for health concerns, the agency may stop monitoring at that particular school.

If the testing reveals a high potential for health concerns, the agency says it will mitigate pollution causing problems.

If the EPA is not able to estimate the effects, they may continue monitoring to obtain additional data.

The results will be available to the public.

 With the flooding and other environmental issues that can promote mold growth. Parents are rightly concerned about mold levels in the schools as well as the school's air quality results.  While the EPA does not involve itself in monitoring this issue, it does have information parents may want to familiarize themselves with, when it comes to mold remediation in schools and other commercial buildings. Therefore a  link to the EPA's website has been included in this article.