SEE ONLY ON FOUR. A LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP IS WORKING WITH LAWMAKERS AND SCHOOLS IN THIS AREA TO STUDY THE HEALTH OF SCHOOLS. THEY’RE BREAKING DOWN FACTORS LIKE MOLD, RADON AND AIR POLLUTION. THE GROUP WOMEN FOR HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOLS WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING STUDENTS AND STAFF SAFE. IT’S LOOKED AT 166 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH TO REALLY GET A SENSE OF HOW THEY WERE APPROACHING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS IN THEIR SCHOOL BUILDINGS. THE GROUP, STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND PA SCHOOLS 2025 REPORT COVERS 13 DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS K THROUGH 12. TOPICS LIKE LEAD AND DRINKING WATER AND IN PAINT. AGE OF BUILDINGS. MOLD, RADON AND ASTHMA RATES. A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW ARE TALKING ABOUT CLAIRTON AND THE AIR POLLUTION THAT’S HAPPENING IN THAT AREA. WHAT DID THE STUDY FIND WITH THE CLAIRTON SCHOOL DISTRICT? THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN A PARTNER IN THINKING ABOUT PUBLIC HEALTH AND HOW IT IMPACTS THE CHILDREN IN THE SCHOOL, PERSONNEL IN THEIR BUILDINGS. ASTHMA IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT’S ALWAYS OF CONCERN IN THE CLAIRTON COMMUNITY. THE REPORT STATES SCHOOLS IN CLAIRTON ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY AIR POLLUTION AND SAYS THAT POLLUTION IS COMING FROM NEARBY CLAIRTON. COKE WORKS PLANT, 98 DISTRICTS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA TOOK PART IN THE REPORT. SPANNING TEN COUNTIES IN THE AREA, THAT’S A 97% RESPONSE RATE. IT FOUND THE AVERAGE HIGH SCHOOL IN OUR AREA WAS BUILT IN 1960, 20 YEARS OLDER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. 52% OF SOUTHWESTERN PA SCHOOL DISTRICT TESTED FOR MOLD, BUT REMEDIATION DOCUMENTS EXIST FOR ONLY ONE OF 26 DISTRICTS ADVISED TO MAKE CHANGES FOR THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. IT STATES. AMONG DISTRICTS TESTING WATER FOR LEAD. ALMOST 95% FOUND LEAD, BUT REMEDIATION REMAINS RARE. NOW HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS TWO BILLS ARE BEING INTRODUCED BY LAWMAKERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, ADDRESSING LEAD ISSUES, AND THEY’RE TRYING TO MAKE RADON TESTING REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS. NOW, THERE IS A LOT OF DATA. SO IF YOU WANT TO READ THE ENTIRE REPORT IN THE OVERVIEW OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, JUST LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE. WTAE.C
Group unveils ‘State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools’ report
A local environmental group is working with lawmakers and schools in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas to study the health of schools. They are breaking down factors like mold, radon and air pollution.The group, “Women for a Healthy Environment,” takes a deep dive into Pennsylvania schools when it comes to keeping students and staff safe.Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, who is the executive director Women for a Healthy Environment, said, “We looked at 166 school districts across the commonwealth to really get a sense of how they were approaching environmental issues, environmental hazards in their school buildings.”The group’s State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools 2025 Report covers 13 different categories for public schools K through 12. It ranges in topics, such as lead in drinking water and in paint, age of buildings, mold, radon and asthma rates.Southwestern Pa. Regional Overview: Environmental Health in SchoolsPittsburgh’s Action News 4 anchor/reporter Chandi Chapman asked, “A lot of people are talking about Clairton and the air pollution that’s happening in that area. What did the study find?”Naccarati-Chapkis said, “With the Clairton School District, they have really been a partner in thinking about public health and how it impacts the children and school personnel in their buildings. Asthma is certainly something that is always a concern in the Clairton community.”The report stated that schools in Clairton are directly impacted by air pollution and said that pollution is coming from the nearby Clairton Coke Works plant.Read the full report: State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania SchoolsNinety-eight districts in southwestern Pennsylvania took part in the report, spanning 10 counties in the area. That’s a 97% response rate.It found the average high school in our area was built in 1960, which is 20 years older than the national average.Fifty-two percent of southwestern Pennsylvania school districts tested for mold, but remediation documents exist for only one of 26 districts advised to make changes.In the state of Pennsylvania, it states that among districts testing water for lead, almost 95 percent found lead, but remediation remains rare.The good news is that two bills are being introduced by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle addressing lead issues, and they are trying to make radon testing required in schools.Naccarati-Chapkis said radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
A local environmental group is working with lawmakers and schools in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas to study the health of schools. They are breaking down factors like mold, radon and air pollution.
The group, “Women for a Healthy Environment,” takes a deep dive into Pennsylvania schools when it comes to keeping students and staff safe.
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, who is the executive director Women for a Healthy Environment, said, “We looked at 166 school districts across the commonwealth to really get a sense of how they were approaching environmental issues, environmental hazards in their school buildings.”
The group’s State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools 2025 Report covers 13 different categories for public schools K through 12. It ranges in topics, such as lead in drinking water and in paint, age of buildings, mold, radon and asthma rates.
Southwestern Pa. Regional Overview: Environmental Health in Schools
Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 anchor/reporter Chandi Chapman asked, “A lot of people are talking about Clairton and the air pollution that’s happening in that area. What did the study find?”
Naccarati-Chapkis said, “With the Clairton School District, they have really been a partner in thinking about public health and how it impacts the children and school personnel in their buildings. Asthma is certainly something that is always a concern in the Clairton community.”
The report stated that schools in Clairton are directly impacted by air pollution and said that pollution is coming from the nearby Clairton Coke Works plant.
Read the full report: State of Environmental Health in Pennsylvania Schools
Ninety-eight districts in southwestern Pennsylvania took part in the report, spanning 10 counties in the area. That’s a 97% response rate.
It found the average high school in our area was built in 1960, which is 20 years older than the national average.
Fifty-two percent of southwestern Pennsylvania school districts tested for mold, but remediation documents exist for only one of 26 districts advised to make changes.
In the state of Pennsylvania, it states that among districts testing water for lead, almost 95 percent found lead, but remediation remains rare.
The good news is that two bills are being introduced by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle addressing lead issues, and they are trying to make radon testing required in schools.
Naccarati-Chapkis said radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.