CA Kids Breath Unhealthy Air

7/31/2019 CA Kids Breath Unhealthy Air

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Page 1 Environmental Working Group

Summary

Approximately 109,000 children in California breathe unhealthy air at school,according to an Environmental Working Group (EWG) computer analysis. These childrenattend one of the 147 schools in the state located in areas where monitored air pollutionlevels exceed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys proposed new standards formicroscopic toxic airborne particles.

The Particulates Problem

The EPA estimates that fine particulate air pollution is responsible for thepremature death from heart and lung disease of 35,000 people in the United States each

year. The EPA has proposed new standards that would roughly cut in half the amount ofparticles permitted in air. These proposed standards would prevent an estimated 2,500premature deaths a year in California. However, the California Air Resources Board hasrecommended stronger standards, which could prevent an additional 3,000 to 4,000premature deaths per year statewide.

On May 29, EWG released a national report, based on air pollution data fromCalifornia and other states, showing that the worst industrial sources of particulatepollution are oil and gas refineries, chemical plants, pulp and paper mills and electricutilities. (Smokestacks and Smoke Screens: Big Money, Big Polluters and the Fight forCleaner Air.)In California, the largest industrial emitters of particulate pollution includesuch petrochemical corporations as Exxon, Chevron, Shell, Arco and Mobil, as well asSouthern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric.

Kids On the Front Line

Both California and national air pollution standards are currently based onexposure limits necessary to protect the average person in the population. But thesestandards may be inadequate to protect children. Not only are childrens systems mostoften more vulnerable to lower levels of toxins than adults, but kids spend considerablymore time out of doors at play and at school where they are more likely to breatheairborne pollutants.

W O R K I N G G R O U PT M

E N V I R O N M E N T A L

EWG Policy Memorandum

EWG California P.O. Box 29034 San Francisco, CA 94129 (415) 561-6598 Fax (415) 561-6480

[email protected] www.ewg.org

Contacts:

Bill Walker (415) 561-6598

Richard Wiles (202) 667-6982June 4, 1997

more

100,000 California KidsBreathe Unhealthy Air at School


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Page 2 Environmental Working Group

To determine how many California children are exposed to unhealthy air atschool, EWG first identified all air pollution monitors in the state where levels of airborneparticles exceeded EPAs proposed standards for the particles known as PM-2.5 annualexposure to no more than 15 micrograms per cubic meter of air. (PM-2.5 particles arethose that are 2.5 microns or smaller. A micron is 1 millionth of a meter, or about one-

seventieth the size of a human hair.)

We then identified, from state Department of Education data, all schools locatedwithin one mile of these monitors. The attached table list alphabetically, city-by-city, the147 schools, the number of students who attend, the distance from the monitor, and thelevels of particulate pollution recorded by the monitors. (Note than several schools in thesame city may share proximity to a single monitor.)

Measured by exposure level, students in Calexico, Imperial County, are most atrisk. Both Jefferson Elementary School and Calexico High School are within one-half mileof a monitor that recorded particulate levels of 36.6 micrograms well over twice the

EPAs proposed standard.

Of the states larger cities, seven schools in Riverside were near a monitor thatrecorded particulate levels of 27.9 micrograms. Bakersfield had 15 schools near monitorsdetecting 19 or more micrograms, Burbank had nine schools near sites detecting 18 ormicrograms, and Fresno had eight schools near monitoring sites detecting 18 or moremicrograms.

It is important to note what these data do notshow. Because air monitors arerelatively few and far between, the actual number of children who attend school near amajor source of particulate pollution may be significantly greater than 109,000. (If schools

within two miles of a monitor that exceeds the proposed standard are counted, 461schools with almost 325,000 students are affected.) Also, these data deal with pollutantsdetected at the site of the monitors, which measure emissions from auto exhaust as wellas industrial emissions. While the air in Southern California and the Central Valleycontains higher levels of total particulates, oil and chemical refineries in the East Bay topthe list of industrial sources of particulate pollution in the state.

Conclusion and Recommendations

These findings show clearly that thousands of children in California are exposed tounhealthy levels of air pollution while at school. They point to the need for developmentand implementation of environmental health standards based on exposure limitsnecessary to protect children and other highly vulnerable populations.

Assembly Bill 278 would help address this problem. Among other provisions, thebill would require that the Air Resources Board conduct air pollution monitoring atselected schools and daycare centers in order to better evaluate childrens exposure;require major toxics facilities within one mile of a school to implement pollutionreduction plans; require notification of schools and daycare centers in the South Coast airdistrict when air quality standards are violated or expected to be violated.


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Sc h o o l C i ty En ro l l m en tPM 2 . 5A v e r a g

M i l es f romM o n i t o r

C a l i fo r n ia sc ho o ls w i th in 1 m i le o f a n a i r po l lu tion m on i to rtha t exceed s the EPA prop osed f ine p ar tic le stan da rd

B A LL JU N IO R H IG H A N A H EIM 1 ,1 1 2 1 7 . 70 . 5 4

C A LV A RY C H A PEL C H RIST IA N A C A D EM Y A N A H EIM 3 4 1 7 . 70 . 6 9

FRA N K LIN ELEM EN TA RY A N A H EIM 8 3 3 1 7 . 70 . 5 4

G RA C E LU TH ERA N PA RISH ELEM . A N A H EIM 5 6 1 7 . 70 . 4 3

JEFFERSO N ELEM EN TA RY A N A H EIM 8 1 3 1 7 . 70 . 7 3

LO A RA H IG H A N A H EIM 1 ,8 7 7 1 7 . 70 . 6 8

REV ERE ELEM EN TA RY A N A H EIM 9 7 0 1 7 . 70 . 6 7

RO SS ELEM EN TA RY A N A H EIM 6 2 6 1 7 . 70 . 9 0

H O D G E (V IC TO R F.) ELEM EN TA RY A Z U SA 5 0 6 1 8 . 60 . 5 8

LO N G FELLO W ELEM EN TA RY A Z U SA 3 3 9 1 8 . 60 . 8 4

M O U N TA IN V IEW ELEM EN TA RY A Z U SA 4 9 4 1 8 . 60 . 8 6SLA U SO N IN T ERM ED IA T E A Z U SA 8 5 4 1 8 . 60 . 8 4

B A K ERSFIELD H IG H B A K ERSFIELD 2 ,9 4 6 2 5 . 40 . 4 7

C U RRA N JU N IO R H IG H B A K ERSFIELD 8 4 8 1 9 . 20 . 8 4

FRA N K LIN ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 5 9 4 2 5 . 40 . 4 2

H A RRIS (C A RO LIN E) ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 8 0 7 1 9 . 20 . 6 8

H IG H LA N D ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 6 3 5 1 9 . 10 . 4 5

H ILLS (STELLA I. ) ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 6 4 7 2 3 . 60 . 6 4

LO N G FELLO W ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 7 3 6 2 3 . 60 . 9 0

M A N O R H EIG H TS C H RIST IA N B A K ERSFIELD 7 3 1 9 . 10 . 3 4

M U N SEY ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 7 3 9 1 9 . 20 . 5 6N O RT H H IG H B A K ERSFIELD 1 ,8 8 7 1 9 . 10 . 9 5

RO O SEV ELT ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 7 3 7 1 9 . 20 . 7 0

ST . FRA N C IS B A K ERSFIELD 4 4 4 1 9 . 20 . 6 7

STO C K D A LE C H RIST IA N ELEM . B A K ERSFIELD 5 2 1 1 9 . 20 . 6 7

SU N RISE C H RIST IA N ELEM . B A K ERSFIELD 2 4 4 1 9 . 20 . 9 7

W ILLIA M PEN N ELEM EN TA RY B A K ERSFIELD 4 1 7 2 5 . 40 . 7 2

D ESERT V A LLEY H IG H (C O N T.) BRA W LEY 1 0 5 2 2 . 40 . 4 5

SA C RED H EA RT ELEM . BRA W LEY 1 4 2 2 2 . 40 . 2 5

W O RTH (B A RB A RA ) JU N IO R H IG H BRA W LEY 8 7 7 2 2 . 40 . 2 9

B ELLA RM IN E-JEFFERSO N H IG H B U RB A N K 6 2 0 1 8 . 40 . 8 2

B U RB A N K FO U RSQ U A RE C H U RC H B U RB A N K 1 4 1 8 . 40 . 8 1

B U RB A N K H IG H B U RB A N K 1 ,9 5 0 1 8 . 40 . 8 1

B U RRO U G H S H IG H B U RB A N K 1 ,7 4 5 1 8 . 40 . 7 3

D ISN EY (W A LT) ELEM EN TA RY B U RB A N K 3 8 7 1 8 . 40 . 2 9

ED ISO N (TH O M A S) ELEM EN T A RY B U RB A N K 5 3 8 1 8 . 40 . 9 7

JO RD A N (D A V ID STA RR) M ID D LE B U RB A N K 7 7 4 1 8 . 40 . 8 5

M C K IN LEY (W ILLIA M ) ELEM EN TA RY B U RB A N K 5 9 9 1 8 . 40 . 7 9

ST . RO BERT B ELLA RM IN E ELEM . B U RB A N K 3 0 9 1 8 . 40 . 8 7


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A U RO RA H IG H (C O N T . ) C A LEX IC O 1 5 9 2 9 . 00 . 6 0

C A LEX IC O H IG H C A LEX IC O 1 ,5 4 1 3 6 . 60 . 1 8

D E A N Z A JU N IO R H IG H C A LEX IC O 9 8 0 2 9 . 00 . 5 9

D O O L ELEM EN T A RY C A LEX IC O 6 8 4 2 9 . 00 . 9 6

JEFFERSO N ELEM EN TA RY C A LEX IC O 6 0 9 3 6 . 60 . 3 3

M A IN S ELEM EN TA RY C A LEX IC O 5 5 1 2 9 . 00 . 3 9

M O REN O (W ILLIA M ) JU N IO R H IG H C A LEX IC O 7 6 6 2 9 . 00 . 7 4

RO C K W O O D ELEM EN T A RY C A LEX IC O 6 2 2 2 9 . 00 . 4 6

V IN C EN T M EM O RIA L H IG H C A LEX IC O 2 2 9 2 9 . 00 . 2 5

B U C H A N A N H IG H C LO V IS 2 ,2 1 2 1 7 . 70 . 6 4

C O LE ELEM EN TA RY C LO V IS 8 1 8 1 7 . 70 . 5 3SIERRA V ISTA ELEM EN TA RY C LO V IS 6 4 0 1 7 . 70 . 8 6

V A LLEY C H RIST IA N A C A D EM Y C LO V IS 1 4 9 1 7 . 70 . 5 9

W ELD O N ELEM EN TA RY C LO V IS 7 9 1 1 7 . 70 . 9 6

C EN TRA L H IG H EL C EN T RO 2 ,8 6 1 1 8 . 70 . 1 7

G RA C E LU TH ERA N EL C EN T RO 7 0 1 8 . 70 . 3 1

H A RD IN G ELEM EN TA RY EL C EN T RO 6 3 9 1 8 . 70 . 6 1

H ED RIC K (M A RG A RET) ELEM EN TA RY EL C EN T RO 7 6 0 1 8 . 70 . 7 1

K EN N ED Y M ID D LE EL C EN T RO 5 4 9 1 8 . 70 . 5 2

LIN C O LN ELEM EN TA RY EL C EN T RO 7 0 5 1 8 . 70 . 2 4

M C K IN LEY ELEM EN TA RY EL C EN T RO 5 6 1 1 8 . 70 . 7 6ST . M A RY ' S C A TH O LIC ELEM . EL C EN T RO 2 6 8 1 8 . 70 . 7 6

W ILSO N JU N IO R H IG H EL C EN T RO 9 6 5 1 8 . 70 . 1 7

B ELLA V ISTA H IG H FA IR O A K S 1 ,6 2 4 1 6 . 50 . 2 1

EL SEREN O A LTERN A T IV E ED U C . (A LT ERN .) FA IR O A K S 3 9 3 1 6 . 50 . 2 1

N O RTH RID G E ELEM EN TA RY FA IR O A K S 4 2 2 1 6 . 50 . 6 1

RO B ERTS ELEM EN TA RY FA IR O A K S 4 3 6 1 6 . 50 . 8 9

A Y N ESW O RTH ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 9 2 8 2 2 . 00 . 5 6

B A LD ERA S (EZ EKIEL) ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 1 ,0 8 7 2 2 . 00 . 8 4

B IRN EY ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 9 1 6 1 8 . 20 . 2 6

C A LW A ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 9 1 4 2 2 . 00 . 6 0

C EN TEN N IA L ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 8 3 4 1 8 . 20 . 8 8

K EY LIFE C H RIST IA N FRESN O 1 0 1 8 . 20 . 6 4

PY LE ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 7 5 8 1 8 . 20 . 8 4

W ISH O N ELEM EN TA RY FRESN O 7 8 5 1 8 . 20 . 8 4

LIN C O LN ELEM EN TA RY H A N FO RD 5 8 8 2 8 . 00 . 0 9

A N Z A (JU A N D E) ELEM EN TA RY H A W T H O RN E 4 5 9 1 6 . 30 . 4 9

D A N A (RIC H A RD H EN RY ) ELEM EN TA R H A W T H O RN E 4 8 1 1 6 . 30 . 7 3

EU C A LY PTU S ELEM EN TA RY H A W T H O RN E 1 ,1 3 5 1 6 . 30 . 8 0


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IN D IO M ID D LE IN D IO 1 ,0 0 3 2 0 . 70 . 6 6

JEFFERSO N (TH O M A S) M ID D LE IN D IO 6 1 4 2 0 . 70 . 6 6

PA LM D ESERT H IG H IN D IO 1 ,9 1 2 2 0 . 70 . 6 6

B U FO RD ELEM EN TA RY LEN N O X 7 8 5 1 6 . 30 . 5 0

FELTO N ELEM EN TA RY LEN N O X 7 5 7 1 6 . 30 . 7 6

LEN N O X M ID D LE LEN N O X 1 ,7 7 2 1 6 . 30 . 4 8

B U RRO U G H S ELEM EN TA RY LO N G B EA C H 3 1 3 1 7 . 20 . 9 0

H U G H ES M ID D LE LO N G B EA C H 1 ,4 1 1 1 7 . 20 . 5 7

LO N G B EA C H B RETH REN ELEM . LO N G B EA C H 2 6 7 1 7 . 20 . 1 7

LO N G FELLO W ELEM EN TA RY LO N G B EA C H 8 1 0 1 7 . 20 . 4 5

LO S C ERRITO S ELEM EN TA RY LO N G B EA C H 3 8 3 1 7 . 20 . 6 4RA IN B O W C H RIST IA N A C A D EM Y LO N G B EA C H 2 5 1 7 . 20 . 5 7

ST . B A RN A B A S ELEM . LO N G B EA C H 2 8 3 1 7 . 20 . 8 6

A N N STREET ELEM EN TA RY LO S A N G ELES 2 8 8 1 9 . 80 . 7 4

C A STELA R STREET ELEM EN TA RY LO S A N G ELES 1 ,0 7 3 1 9 . 80 . 2 5

D O W N TO W N B U SIN ESS H IG H LO S A N G ELES 9 0 6 1 9 . 80 . 7 1

LO S A N G ELES U N IFIED A LTERN A TIV E LO S A N G ELES 2 ,2 3 1 1 9 . 80 . 4 7

PLA SEN C IA (B ETTY ) ELEM EN TA RY LO S A N G ELES 1 ,5 7 2 1 9 . 80 . 7 9

SO LA N O A V EN U E ELEM EN TA RY LO S A N G ELES 2 3 5 1 9 . 80 . 8 5

K IN G (M A RTIN LU TH ER JR.) M ID D LE M A D ERA 0 1 8 . 00 . 4 1

M ILLV IEW ELEM EN TA RY M A D ERA 8 8 7 1 8 . 00 . 9 9SIERRA V ISTA ELEM EN TA RY M A D ERA 8 2 1 1 8 . 00 . 6 4

FREM O N T (JO H N ) ELEM EN T A RY M ERC ED 6 0 3 1 7 . 60 . 9 0

G RA C EY (LEO N TIN E) ELEM EN TA RY M ERC ED 8 8 1 1 7 . 60 . 2 5

SH EEH Y (M A RG A RET) ELEM EN TA RY M ERC ED 5 6 3 1 7 . 60 . 4 1

TEN A Y A M ID D LE M ERC ED 1 ,0 2 3 1 7 . 60 . 5 6

EN SLEN ELEM EN TA RY M O D EST O 4 1 7 1 7 . 40 . 5 0

H O PE C H RIST IA N A C A D EM Y M O D EST O 2 6 1 7 . 40 . 5 7

SM A LL W O RLD C H RIST IA N ELEM . M O D EST O 7 5 1 7 . 40 . 8 2

W ILSO N ELEM EN TA RY M O D EST O 4 2 6 1 7 . 40 . 9 9

C A RN EG IE (A N D REW ) M ID D LE O RA N G EV A LE 9 3 0 1 6 . 50 . 9 6

PA RK A V EN U E ELEM EN T A RY PERRIS 6 2 1 2 0 . 00 . 7 5

RED EEM ER C H RISTIA N PERRIS 3 8 2 0 . 00 . 9 7

SA N D ERS (N A N ) ELEM EN TA RY PERRIS 8 6 6 2 0 . 00 . 7 3

ST . JA M ES ELEM . PERRIS 3 0 9 2 0 . 00 . 8 7

T EM PLE C H RIST IA N SC H O O LS PERRIS 1 9 4 2 0 . 00 . 9 9

C ITRU S G RO V E C H RIST IA N RED LA N D S 1 6 1 9 . 40 . 4 7

FRA N K LIN ELEM EN TA RY RED LA N D S 9 5 8 1 9 . 40 . 7 1

H O PE C H RIST IA N ELEM . RED LA N D S 6 3 1 9 . 40 . 4 4


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RED LA N D S C H RIST IA N RED LA N D S 3 1 3 1 9 . 40 . 9 1

RED LA N D S SEN IO R H IG H RED LA N D S 4 ,7 0 1 1 9 . 40 . 5 6

T EM PLE B A PTIST ELEM . RED LA N D S 1 0 1 1 9 . 40 . 8 4

M ISSIO N M ID D LE RIV ERSID E 1 ,3 1 3 2 7 . 90 . 7 7

N U EV A V IST A C O N T IN U A T IO N H IG H RIV ERSID E 2 8 4 2 7 . 90 . 4 8

RIO V IST A H IG H RIV ERSID E 3 8 2 7 . 90 . 4 8

RU B ID O U X H IG H RIV ERSID E 1 ,9 9 5 2 7 . 90 . 7 8

RU STIC LA N E ELEM EN TA RY RIV ERSID E 6 3 9 2 7 . 90 . 4 3

SU N N Y SLO PE C H RIST IA N RIV ERSID E 6 2 7 . 90 . 5 4

SU N N Y SLO PE ELEM EN TA RY RIV ERSID E 6 8 9 2 7 . 90 . 7 4

M O N TEREY ELEM EN TA RY SA N B ERN A RD IN O 6 8 8 2 3 . 10 . 2 9SIERRA H IG H (C O N T .) SA N B ERN A RD IN O 4 1 1 2 3 . 10 . 9 0

PERK IN S ELEM EN T A RY SA N D IEG O 5 9 0 1 5 . 50 . 6 4

SH ERM A N ELEM EN TA RY SA N D IEG O 1 ,0 6 8 1 5 . 50 . 6 6

SA M U EL H A N C O C K C H RIST IA N ST O C K T O N 2 8 1 6 . 10 . 3 4

ST . G ERTRU D E ST O C K T O N 1 9 9 1 6 . 10 . 3 3

G LEN SH IRE ELEM EN TA RY T RU C K EE 0 2 1 . 20 . 6 8

SA C RED H EA RT ELEM . T U RLO C K 2 7 8 1 8 . 20 . 8 6

T U RLO C K H IG H T U RLO C K 3 ,3 3 0 1 8 . 20 . 6 7

W A K EFIELD ELEM EN TA RY T U RLO C K 7 8 4 1 8 . 20 . 9 7

C H RIST IA N C O V EN A N T A C A D EM Y V IC TO RV ILLE 1 6 1 6 . 20 . 7 1C O N Y ER ELEM EN TA RY V ISA LIA 5 6 7 2 1 . 10 . 9 3

G RA C E LU TH ERA N V ISA LIA 1 2 7 2 1 . 10 . 9 7

H IG H LA N D ELEM EN TA RY V ISA LIA 5 2 8 2 1 . 10 . 5 5

M IN ERA L K IN G ELEM EN TA RY V ISA LIA 8 2 1 2 1 . 10 . 7 3

M T . W H IT N EY H IG H V ISA LIA 1 ,9 5 6 2 1 . 10 . 8 7

PA TH FIN D ER C H RIST IA N ELEM . V ISA LIA 5 4 2 1 . 10 . 8 9

PRA ISE A LTERN A TIV E C H RIST IA N ED U C A T IO N V ISA LIA 8 2 1 . 10 . 2 8

RED W O O D H IG H V ISA LIA 1 ,9 6 2 2 1 . 10 . 6 6

W A SH IN G T O N ELEM EN TA RY V ISA LIA 4 2 2 2 1 . 10 . 5 5

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CA Kids Breath Unhealthy Air