All News Releases By Date

EPA Releases Final Report on Air Toxics Near Minneapolis Middle School, Finds Pollutants Below Levels of Concern

Release Date: 06/10/2010
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, 312-353-6218, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 10-OPA064

Chicago (June 10, 2010) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 announced today that the final report based on the school air toxics monitoring data from Minnesota International Middle Charter School in Minneapolis, Minn., has been posted on the Agency’s Website.

Based on the monitoring results, EPA found no concern for risk of health problems from short-term or long-term exposures to diisocyanates or other air toxics. EPA is pleased to share this good news with the school and the community. Because no concentrations of concern were found, monitoring has been discontinued at the school.

The report is posted on EPA’s Website at: https://www.epa.gov/schoolair/schools.html.

The Schools Air Toxics Monitoring Initiative, which monitored outdoor air at 63 schools in 22 states, is designed to help EPA and state environmental agencies understand whether long-term exposure to air toxics poses health concerns for children and staff at the schools.

From July 30 through Oct. 10, 2009, a monitor collected air samples near the Minnesota International Middle Charter School. Diisocyanates and toxic metals were the key pollutants of interest. During the monitoring period, EPA evaluated the concentrations to see if there was an issue with short-term exposures to these and other air toxics. Once the monitoring was complete, EPA analyzed the results to see if there was a concern from long-term exposures. In order to keep the community informed, EPA posted individual air sample results on the Website throughout the monitoring period.

Other schools being monitored in EPA Region 5 are Saint Josaphat School, Chicago; Lincoln Elementary School, Warsaw, Ind.; Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, East Chicago, Ind.; Jefferson Elementary School, Gary, Ind.; Pittsboro Elementary School, Pittsboro, Ind.; Lincoln Park Elementary School, Muskegon, Mich.; La Croft Elementary School, East Liverpool, Ohio; Elm Street Elementary School, Wauseon, Ohio; Life Skills of Trumbull County and the Academy of Arts and Humanities, Warren, Ohio; The Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and Warren Elementary School, Marietta; and Ohio Whitwell Elementary School, Ironton, Ohio.

# # #