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March 12, 2009
EPA data shows dangerous toxins near our schools
In a recent USA TODAY analysis of EPA data, results show that the air outside many schools across the nation have high levels of dangerous toxic chemicals, most of whose effects on children have never been tested.
I’m not sure how many schools there are across S.C., but all together, there are 1,521 schools with dangerous toxicity levels in the atmosphere around them!
The two worst in S.C. were right here in N. Chas: Chicora Elementary (169th worst in the nation) & St. Johns Catholic School (432nd worst in the nation) – putting them both along with Charlestowne Academy & Riverside High School in the top percentile across the nation!
Chemicals most responsible for the toxicity outside Chicora Elementary School
| Toxic Chemicals | Overall Toxicity |
|---|---|
| Manganese and manganese compounds | 70% |
| Chromium and chromium compounds | 20% |
| Nickel and nickel compounds | 3% |
| Sulfuric acid | 2% |
| Copper and copper compounds | 1% |
Polluters most responsible for toxics outside Chicora Elementary School
| Business | Location |
|---|---|
| Charleston Marine Containers Inc. | N. Chas, S.C. |
| Meadwestvaco Corp. | N. Chas, S.C. |
| Detyens Shipyard | N. Chas, S.C. |
| Rhodia Inc. | Chas, S.C. |
| Saint-Gobain Vetrotex America Inc. | N. Chas, S.C. |
Chemicals most responsible for the toxicity outside St. Johns Catholic School
| Toxic Chemicals | Overall Toxicity |
|---|---|
| Manganese and manganese compounds | 67% |
| Chromium and chromium compounds | 20% |
| Sulfuric acid | 4% |
| Nickel and nickel compounds | 3% |
| Formaldehyde | 2% |
Polluters most responsible for toxics outside St. Johns Catholic School
| Business | Location |
|---|---|
| Charleston Marine Containers Inc. | N. Chas, S.C. |
| Meadwestvaco Corp. | N. Chas, S.C. |
| Saint-Gobain Vetrotex America Inc. | N. Chas, S.C. |
| Rhodia Inc. | Chas, S.C. |
| Alumax Of South Carolina | Goose Creek, S.C. |
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute, and USA Today.
* Chemicals most responsible for the toxicity outside this school may not add up to 100% because only the top chemicals are listed.
Maybe there is something to living out in Kansas – wizard or not; Either way, I bet they’re breathing better than us!
* UPDATE: 3/25/9: EPA’s new Strategic Plan for Evaluating the Toxicity of Chemicals
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