UM: Pollution & Schools

USA Today reports on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to identify dangers from air pollution around schools. While most schools do not have dangerous levels of pollution, the EPA has flagged certain hot-spot areas where toxins have reached levels dangerous for long-term exposure. The report notes that another recent University of Michigan study links school absences and deficiency in English and math to higher pollution areas. Paul Mohai, a UM professor and one of the study’s authors, said: “These patterns appear strong enough that they need to be taken seriously.” [Source]