Air toxics near Lapwai High School below levels of concern (ID)
(Seattle - June 1, 2011) Today, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency released the final report on
analysis of air toxics monitoring data near Lapwai High School in
Lapwai, Idaho. EPA found that concentrations of air toxics measured
near the school are below the levels of concern associated with
health problems from either short- or long-term exposures.
The report is posted at: http://www.epa.gov/schoolair.
Monitoring results indicated that vehicle
emissions are contributing to the pollutants detected at the
school. EPA remains concerned about emissions from sources of air
toxics and continues working to reduce those emissions across the
country, through national rules and by providing information and
suggestions to assist with reductions in local areas.
The Nez Perce Tribe Air Quality Program has
identified two areas for further study. The first is to monitor
during warm summer months using real-time air toxics monitoring to
find sources that could be contributing to elevated summer air
toxics concentrations. The second is to measure concentrations
during weather inversion events that trap air pollutants to better
understand how air toxics move and change in the
atmosphere.
The Schools Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative
monitored outdoor air at 63 schools in 22 states. The study was
designed to help EPA and state and tribal environmental agencies
understand whether long-term exposure to air toxics poses health
concerns for children and staff at the schools.
In coordination with the Nez Perce Tribe, EPA
selected Lapwai High School for monitoring because it is located
near a highway that is a source of air toxics emissions.
Cars, other motor vehicles and off-road machinery can be sources of
acetaldehyde, benzene and 1,3-butadiene, which were the key
pollutants of interest.
From September 16, 2009 through December 9,
2009, a monitor collected air samples near the school. During the
monitoring period, EPA evaluated the concentrations to see if there
was an issue with short-term exposures to acetaldehyde and other
air toxics. Once the monitoring was complete, EPA analyzed the
results to see if there was a concern from long-term exposures. In
order to keep the community informed, EPA posted individual air
sample results on its website throughout the monitoring
period.
A summary of the final report on analysis of air
toxics monitoring data near Lapwai High School is at: http://www.epa.gov/schoolair/LapwaiHigh.html.
The full technical report is at: http://www.epa.gov/schoolair/pdfs/LapwaiTechReport.pdf.
Information about the Nez Perce Tribe Air
Quality Program can be found at:
http://www.nezperce.org/Official/Air%20Quality/airquality.htm.
Other schools monitored in EPA Region 10 were:
Concord Elementary in Seattle, Washington; St. Helens Elementary
School in Longview, Washington; Toledo Elementary School in Toledo,
Oregon and Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy in Portland, Oregon.
Information about monitoring at these schools can be found
at www.epa.gov/schoolair.
Information from EPA about sources of air toxics
emissions can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/toxics.htm.
Find out how air toxics affect your health and
the environment at:
https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/air-topics.