Pollution in Our Schools

A problem with many schools in America is that they have an abnormally high density of toxic chemicals that can be harmful for children. These chemicals can cause cancer, asthma, nausea, and mental problems, among other things with prolonged exposure. Schools have been found to have up to a dozen different toxic chemicals at a time, and at times have up to fifty times the state-allowed amount of chemicals. Some of the worse off schools have industrial buildings such as plastic plants across the street. Even those that do not have pollutants pouring in from big businesses, often still suffer from poor ventilation, mold, pesticides, and lead from paint contaminating the air. Studies have shown that there are frequently five to one hundred times as many dangerous chemicals in doors as there are outside. This is especially relevant for schools, because most schools do not have the funds for proper ventilation or upkeep. Over half of America’s schools have been around for forty or more years, making them prime targets for mold, dust, and other harmful pollutants.

Children are especially susceptible to these chemicals due to their small size and developing bodies. The passages where air flows into their lungs are smaller than the passages adults have, and so even if their airways are slightly narrowed due to agitation, it can be harmful. Children also have higher metabolisms, meaning they need more oxygen to survive, so they breathe faster, taking in more pollutants. The effects of breathing in these chemicals are not always immediately obvious. There have been instances of people developing chemical-related illnesses, such as cancer, years after they graduated from schools with an unsafe amount of chemicals. To protect our youth we have to work to help alleviate this problem that affects half of America’s schools.

Works Cited:

http://usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/school-air1.htm (Last Visited: 1/22/2011, found by first going to http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/index)

http://www.generationgreen.org/school air quality overview.htm (Last Visited: 1/22/2011)

http://www.generationgreen.org/school air quality exposure.htm (Last Visited: 1/22/2011)