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EPA SCHOOLS MONITORING INITIATIVE

FELTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
10417 Felton Avenue, Lennox, CA 90304

United States Environmental Protection Agency • Region 9 • San Francisco, CA • October 201 1

What is EPA's School Monitoring Initiative?

On March 31,2009, EPA released a list of priority
schools for outdoor air quality monitoring, as part of an
initiative to understand whether outdoor toxic air pollution
poses health concerns to school children. EPA, with the
support of the South Coast Air Quality Management
District, would:

•	Collect samples of outdoor air near selected schools
over 60 days,

•	Analyze those samples for selected air toxics,

•	Report to the community on levels of air toxics found,

•	Evaluate actions that may be needed to reduce levels
of pollutants of concern.

The schools selected for monitoring include schools
near large industries that are sources of air toxics and
schools in urban areas, where emissions of air toxics come
from a mix of large and small industries, cars, truck, buses
and other sources.

Why is EPA monitoring the
air at my school?

Felton Elementaiy was identified for this Schools
Initiative because of its close proximity to the 1-405
freeway and Los Angeles Airport (LAX). As part of this
study, EPA worked closely with the South Coast Air
Quali ty Management District to monitor the outdoor air for

several air toxics associated with on-road vehicles and
general aviation aircraft. These pollutants have been
associated with a wide range of potential health impacts,
including cancer and respiratory disease.

When was the work completed?

Monitoring at Felton Elementary School was con-
ducted during 08/09/09 - 03/12/10. Between ten to
twenty samples were collected during this period and
tested for several pollutants..

What are the key findings?

Measured levels of lead, a pollutant for which there
are national standards for ambient air, are below the level
of the national standard for protection of public health.

Measured levels of naphthalene. 1.3-butadiene, and
benzene in the air are below the levels of significant
concern suggested by previously available information;
however, these results indicate the influence of mobile
source pollutants of concern that are the focus of EPA
actions nationwide.

Levels detected m this study are not unusual for the
LA area and fall in the range of what we consider back-
ground levels for these chemicals in the LA area. How-
ever, they are known to cause the following potential
health effects at high levels.

What are the potential health effects of
these chemicals at high levels?

Lead. Inhalation and ingestion may affect the
developing nervous system if people are exposed to high
levels.

Naphthalene. Inhalation at high levels can damage
or destroy red blood cells and can cause hemolytic ane-
mia.

13-Butadiene. Inhalation may affect the repro-
ductive system if people are exposed to high levels.

Benzene. Inhalation of benzene at high levels can
affect the bone marrow and can cause anemia and
leukemia.


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What does this mean?

With the monitoring results indicating that levels for
the key pollutants are below the levels of significant
concern, EPA is concluding this monitoring project and will
continue to work to further reduce emissions locally and
across the country.

What are the next steps?

EPA remains concerned about emissions from
stationary sources of air toxics and continues to work to
reduce those emissions across the country, through
national rules and by providing information and suggestions
to assist with reductions in local areas. Additionally, EPA
remains concerned about mobile source emissions and
continues to work to reduce those emissions across the
country, through national rules and by providing informa-
tion and suggestions to assist with reductions in local
areas.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD) will continue to oversee industrial facilities in
the area through air permits and other programs. The
California Air Resources Board (CARB) will continue to
implement reductions in mobile sources through implemen-
tation of national programs and its own programs.

Where can I go for more information?*

EPA has created a national website for the schools
monitoring initiative, where anyone can go to obtain
additional information on the initiative, next steps, and
results:

http://www. epa. gov/schoolair/

Select Felton Elementary School for all related
information on the study, including all the data and
the final report.

Additionally, you can find information about re-
sources for healthy school environments, such as
EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools, at:

http://epa. gov/schools/index.html

The South Coast Air Quality Management District
has also created a fact sheet, available at their
website:

http://www.aqmd. gov

Phone calls can be directed to Mike Bandrowski,
Chief of the Air Toxics, Radiation, and Indoor Air
Office at EPA, Region 9 (415-947-4194), or you may
email us at:

R9schoolmonitoring@epa. gov

Questions or concerns about the monitoring equip-
ment can be directed to:

Phillip Fine

Atmospheric Measurements Manager
South Coast Air Quality Management District
(909)396-2239

* If you do not have internet access you may call us to request a copy of materials
available from the website.


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