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The AQMD sent an
advisory to all school districts within
our four-county region to bring attention to findings from recent studies
regarding the potential for adverse health effects resulting from exposures
to traffic emissions, and to encourage school districts to consider exposure
to vehicle emissions when selecting and evaluating sites for new facilities
such as schools, playgrounds, and residences.
A further
recommendation is that when selecting such sites, proximity to busy roadways
be assessed. Measurements of air quality near freeways have shown that
vehicle related pollutants drop off to near background levels within about
300 meters of the edge of the roadway. Exposures to traffic pollutants can
be minimized with appropriate distance from roadways.
A recent
survey of California schools revealed that approximately 2.3% of public
schools were located within 150 meters of high-traffic roads (greater that
50,000 vehicles per day), and an additional 7.2 % were within 150 meters of
medium traffic roads (25,000 – 50,000 vehicles per day).
Two fact sheets prepared by the California Office of Environmental Health
Hazard Assessment, a unit of Cal/EPA, are also referenced. These fact
sheets contain information regarding air pollution from traffic and
children’s health, and what can be done to reduce exposure and can be
accessed at the following links:
http://www.oehha.ca.gov/public_info/facts/pdf/Factsheetschools.pdf and
http://www.oehha.ca.gov/public_info/facts/pdf/Factsheetparent.pdf
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