Air Pollution Too High Near Some US Schools

[Guest guest]

" Sapkota believes the next step is for the schools that are in these toxic

hotspots to do more monitoring, especially of their indoor air quality, to

assess the extent of the problem. "

_http://greenerhealth.blogspot.com/2009/02/air-pollution-too-high-near-some-us

..html_

(http://greenerhealth.blogspot.com/2009/02/air-pollution-too-high-near-some-us.h\

tml)

Monday, February 16, 2009

_Air Pollution Too High Near Some US Schools_

(http://greenerhealth.blogspot.com/2009/02/air-pollution-too-high-near-some-us.h\

tml)

Newswise — Air pollution is dangerously high around schools near some U.S.

industrial plants, according to a recent study involving researchers from the

University of land and s Hopkins University.

The study, conducted by USA Today reporters, examined air pollution levels

near schools around the U.S. over an eight month period. They used a computer

model from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that

tracks the paths of industrial air pollution around the United States to

predict

the areas of highest air pollution. The USA Today reporters then partnered

with university researchers, including Amir Sapkota of the University of

land School of Public Health, to monitor the air quality around schools in

areas predicted to have both low and high levels of pollution. The findings

were

published on the front page of USA Today on December 10, 2008.

The researchers found high levels of toxins, including volatile organic

compounds (VOC) and fine particulate matter, in the air near schools in the

path

of industrial pollution. Most of the affected schools were located on the

East Coast and in the Midwest with the largest numbers in states like Illinois,

New York, Louisiana and West Virginia . In many cases, toxin levels were much

higher than those considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency. In

some cases, the pollution was high enough to cause concern for long term

adverse health effects.

" The study brings the air pollution problem to the forefront and shows that

we need to pay more attention, " said Sapkota. " By making people aware of the

problem so that they can take action, this study serves an important purpose. "

Sapkota helped measure and identify the VOCs collected from around the

designated monitoring sites. VOCs are organic compounds that react to produce

ozone (photochemical smog) and fine particulate matter or haze. They are found

in

emissions from burning oil and gasoline, as well as in cleaners, paints and

tobacco smoke. They can cause both short- and long-term health effects.

Another researcher, Breysse of the s Hopkins Bloomberg School of

Public Health, analyzed the metallic compounds collected from the air.

The Smallest Victims

The study focused on schools because children are required by law to be

there for long periods of time. This prolongs their exposure to any chemicals

that might pollute the surrounding air. Children are most susceptible to these

compounds because their bodies are small and in the process of developing.

" Exposure to a certain amount of toxin in a child is not the same as the

exposure of an adult to the same amount of toxin, " Sapkota said. " Because the

child weighs less, he or she is exposed to more toxin per unit of body weight

than an adult. " Sapkota believes the next step is for the schools that are in

these toxic hotspots to do more monitoring, especially of their indoor air

quality, to assess the extent of the problem.

" The monitoring in this study was conducted outdoors, " said Sapkota. " That

doesn't necessarily mean that the toxin concentration is the same indoors,

where people spend most of their time. "

According to the EPA, the concentration of VOCs indoors can be up to ten

times higher than concentrations outside. Air filters cannot remove gaseous

VOCs

from the air.

Sapkota also emphasized that everyday pollutants do not just come from

industry. " VOCs also come from cleaning solvents, furniture, stored gasoline,

and

car exhaust, all of which can be found in or near our houses " he said.

He says individuals can help reduce VOC exposure by taking certain actions,

such as choosing cleaning products with low VOC s, and taking public

transportation rather than driving individual cars.

" The primary reason for taking action is that air pollution affects our

health, " Sapkota said. " We want to prevent people from getting sick and to do

that we must remove or minimize exposure to air pollution. "

Air Pollution Research at the University of land

Researchers in the University of land are studying air pollution and the

health and climate problems associated with it regionally and

internationally.

In the School of Public Health , Sapkota is focusing his research on air

pollution. He and his colleagues want to study the air pollutants people

encounter on a day-to-day basis, and examining the affects on human health. His

lab

is currently analyzing air pollution and health records to study air

pollution that can make asthma worse. He also plans to extend air pollution

monitoring to individuals by using personal monitors that follow people

throughout

their day. Another upcoming project will be a lung cancer study in Nepal .

" One of the goals of the University of land's new School of Public

Health is to serve the needs of people in land, the region, the country,

and

the world, " Sapkota said. " As we continue to grow, we will make a big impact

on this field and be a significant force behind it. "

Researchers in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science led by

Professor Dickerson, research air quality in the mid-Atlantic region,

across the United States, and internationally in China and India and the Indian

Ocean. They work with the land Department of the Environment and the

land Department of Natural Resources and federal agencies including the

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA and EPA to conduct

research relevant to state and national policy formulation and decision making.

As part of this teams work with Chinese government on air quality,

University of land students helped monitor air pollution before and during

the

2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing . Plans are underway to establish a joint

research center in China to help further air pollution research there.

Dickerson's research team, composed of chemists and meteorologists, develops

analytical instruments for gases and particles (carbon dioxide, sulfur

dioxide and other pollutants, aerosols, etc.) that affect air quality and/or

climate. Using these instruments in the laboratory, field, and on ships and

aircraft, they measure and interpret the results in terms of photochemistry and

atmospheric physics. Regionally, they measure air quality and study air

pollution in the Baltimore-Washington area and the role of the atmosphere in

the

chemistry of the Chesapeake Bay. Their work provides the basis for the

Washington

Metropolitan Council of Governments daily reports and forecasts of regional

air quality.

Dickerson and department of atmospheric and oceanic science colleague

Hudson, were honored in 2008 by the University System of land for their

more than 10 years work developing and maintaining air quality research, and

monitoring and forecasting studies for the State of land. The two

professors, along with their students, developed the Regional Atmospheric

Measurements, Modeling and Prediction Program used by state agencies to improve

air

quality in land.

" While the air quality in land has improved substantially over the past

few decades, thanks in part to the land Department of the Environment and

the Environmental Protection Agency, areas like Baltimore and College Park

are often in violation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards,said

Dickerson.

Another University of land leader in regional air pollution research is

Professor, Ondov in the department of chemistry and biochemistry. Ondov

studies sources and atmospheric behavior of urban fine particulate matter. He

and his team use measurements of air pollutants, wind angle and velocity to

identify types of pollution in the air and pinpoint their origins. In 2005 a

multi-university team led by Ondov completed a four year Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA) Supersite Project in Baltimore. In the near future,

they

hope to develop new, advanced sensor systems and computational methods for

detecting radioactive materials released by nuclear devices. If a nuclear event

were to occur, such systems could help identify what a device was made of,

where the radioactive materials came from and the location of the detonation.

**************You can't always choose whom you love, but you can choose how

to find them. Start with AOL Personals.

(http://personals.aol.com/?ncid=emlcntuslove00000002)