More than 3 million children enrolled in pre-K-12 schools in the US attend a school located within a quarter mile of a known environmental hazard site tracked by the US Environmental Protection Agency. According to the report, 8% of the country’s schools are located within a quarter mile of a hazardous site, such as a Superfund site, brownfield, or Toxics Release Inventory facility, as defined by the EPA.
Approximately 44% of pre-K-12 schools are located within a mile of a site, a distance where negative exposure effects on health and academic achievement have been documented. This proximity to environmental hazards can have significant consequences for students’ health and well-being.
Researchers at Brown University found that risks are borne disproportionately by Native, Black, Hispanic, and low-income students, who are 124%, 86%, 43%, and 40% more likely to attend schools within a quarter mile of a hazardous site, respectively. The study’s coauthor, Matthew Kraft, noted that it was shocking to discover how common it was for schools to be located near toxic sites and industrial pollution.
The researchers suggest that industrial operations often located their facilities in marginalized communities that have more limited political and economic power to oppose them. As a result, students of color and low-income students face disproportionate exposure to environmental hazards while in school.
The Brown University research team identified geographic variation in the location of schools near environmental hazards. They found that schools in cities face the greatest potential exposure, with 12.7% within a quarter mile of an environmental hazard site, followed by towns at 10.3%. Regionally, schools in the Northeast and Midwest were most likely to be located within a quarter mile of an environmental site.
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The fact that so many schools are located near environmental hazards highlights the need for policymakers and school leaders to prioritize the health and safety of students. Identifying schools near pollution sites can support targeted monitoring of air, soil, and water quality.
Expanded remediation efforts, modernization of school facilities, and more accurate communication of health risks to students, families, and staff can also be implemented. According to the researchers, this can help to shine a light on the critical importance of providing safe and healthy learning environments for students.
Matthew Kraft says, “we’re hopeful the new descriptive evidence we compiled about the thousands of schools located within a few blocks of hazardous sites can help bring attention to this issue among policymakers and school leaders.” The study’s findings highlight the need for urgent action to address the environmental hazards facing schools and communities across the US.
The US Environmental Protection Agency plays a significant role in tracking and regulating environmental hazards, and their data was used in the study to identify schools near hazardous sites. By working together, policymakers, school leaders, and communities can help to create safer and healthier learning environments for all students, which is essential for their well-being and mental health.
They can support targeted initiatives to reduce exposure to environmental hazards and promote healthy learning environments. This can include initiatives to improve air and water quality in schools.
