Healthy Schools

March 7, 2005
More NYC School Buses Get Equipment to Cut Diesel Emissions
Environmental News Services
The New York Power Authority (NYPA) intends to expand its Clean School Bus Program, installing control devices to cut harmful diesel emissions on 1,500 to 2,000 New York City school buses by about 40 percent. The initial plan announced in 2004 covered 1,000 buses.

March 4, 2005
Researchers Find Dust to be Primary Lead Poisoning Source; Develop New Tests for Children
Insurance Journal
Wind blown lead-enriched dust appears to be the primary cause of lead poisoning in children living in cities, according to a new study conducted by researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Xavier University of Louisiana and SUNY ESF (Environmental Science and Forestry).

February 25, 2005
Kellogg's caught in mercury controversy; New York bans mercury toys in childrens' breakfast cereals
Commentary
In a previous article, I reported how Kellogg's was shipping boxes of childrens' breakfast cereal with Spiderman toys containing mercury batteries. I pointed out the insanity of including a highly toxic heavy metal (mercury) in boxes of cereal, not just for the health danger to children, but also the impact on the environment. But Kellogg's wouldn't budge: they wanted to leave the toys in the cereal except where it was illegal to do so.

A government agency overseeing a program to improve school buildings in the state's 31 poorest districts has purchased at least 22 contaminated or possibly contaminated sites, according to a published report. The Schools Construction Corp. plans to build one middle school campus on a federal Superfund site with radioactive soil once the land in Gloucester City is decontaminated, Gannett New Jersey reported.

February 20, 2005
New schools being built on contaminated sites
Asbury Park Press
New Jersey plans to build multimillion-dollar schools on or near what are now contaminated properties — including at one federal Superfund site with radioactive soil — as part of its $6 billion program to improve school buildings in the state's 31 poorest districts. The Schools Construction Corp., which is overseeing the massive program in mostly urban areas, has purchased at least 22 contaminated or possibly contaminated sites, a review of state records shows.

February 18, 2005
NEWS FROM ED MARKEY
United States Congress Massachusetts Seventh District
NEW STUDY SUGGESTS SPIKE IN INFANT MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH RADIATION FROM NUKE PLANTS
Markey Questions NRC on Health Risks of Living Near Nuclear Reactors
Washington, DC: Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the panel which oversees nuclear power regulation, today released a letter he sent to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding health risks for communities who live close to nuclear reactors. A new study released today by Dr. Ernest Sternglass of the University of Pittsburgh suggests that infant mortality increased significantly in 2002, after operating capacity at 104 nuclear power stations reached its highest levels.

February 13, 2005
In a Seep of Trouble
By Sam Smith, New York Post
In a stunning miscalculation, 421 contaminated sites across the state — including 14 in the city — designated safe by environmental officials are now feared to be leaching deadly chemicals into schools, homes and other buildings nearby. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is now launching a mammoth effort to retest the sites, re-clean them if necessary, and inform residents if toxins have breached their homes and schools.

Feburary 13, 2005
Oakland Assempblywoman Introduces Two Environmental Health Bills
Bay City News Wire
Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, introduced two pieces of environmental health legislation during the past week. One bill would ban toxic chemicals in children's toys and baby bottles and the other would require chemical manufacturers to provide the state with more information on the industrial chemicals they use.

August 24, 2004
An Environmental Checklist for Public Schools
By J.R. Pegg (ENS)
WASHINGTON, DC, – With students and teachers across the United States returning to their classrooms, a broad coalition of public interest groups is calling for a concerted effort to identify and fix environmental problems in the nation’s schools. The coalition warns that half the 54 million children and six million staff that attend the nation’s public schools may be exposed to unhealthy conditions.

August 24, 2004
Letter to the Editor
Community Action to Fight Asthma
Dear Editor: The school year begins soon and many of our children will be exposed to environmental hazards in the place we thought they were safe—schools. Numbers of children afflicted with asthma and other diseases are increasing. Although more research needs to be done, there is enough science to know low-cost, primary prevention practices exist and are effective in reducing exposures and thus children’s health risks.

August 23, 2004
2004 School Environmental Checklist Helps Parents and Schools Create Healthier Learning Environments
Beyond Pesticides
A broad coalition of educational, environmental, health and civic organizations released a 2004 School Environmental Checklist today at media events across the country. The action Checklist is designed to help parents, students and teachers identify and fix environmental problems in their school, such as polluted indoor air and toxic chemical uses (visit www.healthyschools.org). This new tool also provides resources to develop a preventive and cost-effective action plan to protect children's health and improve school facility conditions. The coalition called upon the Bush Administration and Congress to reform and to fund school facilities so that every child and every school employee -20% of the American population- has a healthy, hazard-free, and energy-efficient workplace.

August 18, 2004
Millions of Children Will Return to Unsafe Schools
Organic Consumers Association
St. Paul/MN- A broad coalition of educational, environmental, health and civic organizations released a Back to School Environmental Checklist today at Dodge Nature Preschool in West St. Paul and across the country. The Checklist is designed to help parents, students and teachers evaluate environmental problems in their school, such as polluted indoor air and toxic pesticide use. This new tool also provides resources to develop a precautionary action plan to prevent environmental hazards, protect children's health, and improve school safety. The coalition called upon the Bush Administration and Congress to reform and to fund school facilities so that every child and every school employee-20% of the American population-has a healthy, hazard-free, and energy-efficient workplace.

August 10, 2004
Parents sue district over mold in schools
By Angela Delli Santi, Associated Press
TRENTON, N.J. -- Bonnie Tuttle watched her adolescent son go from healthy to seriously ill during the school year. Now she and the parents of nine other students are suing the public school district over mold contamination they say made their children sick.

July 1, 2004
Schools Receive Poor Marks on Pesticide Policy Compliance
Beyond Pesticides
According to a report issued by Californians for Alternatives to Toxics (CATs), most schools in Humboldt County, in Northern California, are not complying with a state pesticide right-to-know law. The report refers to the Healthy Schools Act of 2000, which requires detailed record keeping of pesticide use, as well as notification of pesticide use to parents who request it.

June 28, 2004
District tackles radon
By Charles N. Brown- TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Gateway officials are expected to hire a firm Wednesday to rid Gateway Middle School of radon, six months after traces of the gaseous radioactive element were discovered.

By Camille Roy, Tronoto Star
ORANGEVILLE—Miranda Brar lives on a nice Orangeville street lined with old trees and old houses with perfectly manicured lawns. In fact, she says, it's so nice that it's making her sick.

June 24, 2004
Pupils sickened by mold, suit says
School district accused of ignoring problem
By Matthew Brown - Times-Picayune -River Parishes bureau
A lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of students at The Glade elementary school in LaPlace alleges toxic mold in the building caused health problems among pupils while school officials ignored the situation.

May 26, 2004
Most schools not complying with pesticide regulations
By Michael C. Levenson / Michael.Levenson@statehousenews.com
A new report by state Auditor Joseph DeNucci concludes that most parents in Massachusetts are not being informed of pesticide use at their children's schools and childcare centers despite a state law requiring schools to submit detailed plans about pesticide use on their grounds.

January 29, 2004
Schools get an education on air quality importance
By Jessica K. Smith, Record-Journal
WALLINGFORD — Most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, and exposure to air pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates.

But at school, mold can be a serious problem. And this year, a wet spring and summer turned many local schools into petri dishes for mold to flourish.

(Washington, DC - April 17, 2003) In a report released today, schools from across the country document a growing trend to adopt safer practices that dramatically reduce pesticides in the schools, providing children with a healthier learning environment, according to the authors.

June 2002
Learning the Hard Way: The Poor Environment of America's Schools
Environmental Health Perspectives , Vol. 110. No. 6
Children across the country are being subjected to a variety of environmental dangers at school including poor indoor air quality, toxic chemicals and pesticides. Learning the Hard Way: The Poor Environment of America's Schools.

Fall 2001
How Healthy is Your Child's School?
by Elizabeth Agnvall- Family Safety & Health
Dangers children face at school include toxic pesticides, mold, and poor indoor air quality. Includes questions parents should ask school officials.

May, 2000
Danger in the Schoolyard
Ladies' Home Journal - SPECIAL REPORT
Studies show that pesticides can harm children’s health. Yet across the country, kids are being exposed to high levels of dangerous chemicals at school.

For more infomration contact Stacey Vaeth Gonzalez, Childproofing our Communities Coordinator of Center for Health, Environment & Justice at
703-237–2249 ext. 21, or sgonzalez@chej.org for more information.