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Pocono News Section
USA Today Report Focuses on Air Quality in Schools
USA Today Report Focuses on Air Quality in Schools - Friday, January 2, 2009 at 10:30PM EST
HAZLE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY - USA Today says that more than 400 schools around the nation could pose a threat to students. Some of the worst on that list are in Luzerne County.
The USA Today study took 8 months and used E. P.A. emissions data that must be filed by industries around the nation. It found 435 schools that are in potential toxic hot spots. These places have high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the air.
Some of the highest levels were found at Hazleton Area High School, the Hazleton Career Center and Hazle Elementary School. The USA Today report says the majority of those harmful airborne chemicals are coming from several factories within the nearby Valmont Industrial Park.
School board member and pediatrician Dr. Bob Childs says the district must take a closer look at the USA Today report and then, if need be, take action. Dr. Childs says, “We need to sit down with the Environmental Protection Agency and work out a plan for monitoring the school. We need to find out the seriousness of the problem and doing something about those problems."
But Dr. Childs insists people should not panic. He adds, "I think that the message here, not that people are falling over from lead fumes at this particular point in time that's not happening, but at the same time the parameters of the study are not clear to me at this time."
Phil Kaufman is an environmental activist. he says. the report should concern people. Phil states, "You have to track and study the problem if you have to shutdown industries that are polluting that area."
Parents like Nicole Mumie worry about the kids. She says, "I think they should do more testing to try to get our kids into a safe place and figure out what is going on."
There are several other area schools on that list. For more information go to and look for their smokestack report. Eyewitness News will have more on this story in the days ahead. | | |
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