Air Quality in Your Community - North Charleston
DHEC petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to select Chicora Elementary School to be included in their national study to monitor concentrations of toxic air pollutants near schools.
Estimates of emissions from industrial sources, computer models, and other information available to EPA and DHEC indicated that toxic compounds may be present at elevated levels in the outdoor air around the school. Based on the nearby sources, EPA identified six key pollutants to measure in the air near this school:
Concentrations of other toxic air pollutants, such as arsenic and other metals, were also measured in the samples and are available.
- Several samplers collected air samples over five months starting in July at Chicora Elementary School in North Charleston, SC.
- Acetaldehyde, hexavalent chromium, manganese, nickel, 1,3-butadiene, and benzene were the key pollutants being monitored.
- DHEC also collected samples during the study at two additional monitoring sites, located on Jenkins Avenue and in Howard Heights.
- Individual air sample results were provided throughout the monitoring period to keep the community informed.
- Initial review of the data indicated no concern for risk of health problems from short-term exposures to acetaldehyde, hexavalent chromium, manganese, or nickel.
- Data shows other toxic air pollutants were present at very low levels in the air, which is typical for an urban area.
- The actual concentrations of the key pollutants measured around Chicora Elementary are lower than the emissions estimates in the models that were used to identify this school for monitoring.
- EPA analyzed the results to estimate long-term average levels at the school and determine whether those levels are a health risk for school-age children, school staff, and the local community.
- The following was evaluated to determine if a problem exists with air quality
around the school:
- measurements of air toxics found in the air,
- information about nearby potential sources of these air toxics,
- information on wind direction and wind speed at Chicora Elementary, and
- what is known about the relationship between exposure to these pollutants at the measured levels over several years (i.e., chronic exposure) and the risk of developing associated health problems over the course of a lifetime1.
1 Potential inhalation risks are typically incremental; that is, they are potential risks that are in addition to those risks already faced by the population under study for reasons other than exposure to air toxics (i.e., hereditary or lifestyle risks such as smoking).
- The results of the monitoring at and near Chicora Elementary were consistent with monitoring that has been done in other industrialized areas in SC and around the country.
- Some pollutants were detected at levels above background levels; however, EPA's evaluations of these pollutants do not show short-term or long-term health effects.
- Because the monitoring did not indicate any public health concerns with short-term or long-term exposure, EPA and DHEC do not plan to do any additional monitoring as part of the School Air Toxics initiative at Chicora Elementary School.
- For more information about EPA's monitoring study results and analysis, please visit EPA's Chicora Elementary webpage.
Air Toxics Data
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed sample screening levels for the Schools Monitoring Initiative for each pollutant to help identify situations where additional information may be needed, such as further evaluation of conditions during the sampling period and/or review of activity at potential local sources of a measured pollutant.
It is important to understand that individual sample results above the EPA's sample screening levels do not necessarily indicate that there is a health risk to people who live or work nearby, only that additional information may be required to understand the potential impacts. When pollutants were found to have concentrations above the EPA's screening levels, EPA carefully evaluated any potential health effects and assessed the need for additional monitoring.
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Chicora ElementaryAll results will be posted as they become available, most within 4 to 6 weeks from the date the sample is collected. Some results may not be available until the end of the sample study.
The key pollutants analyzed in the samples from this site and their concentrations
Concentrations of other toxic air pollutants analyzed in the samples
As a footnote to the table: It is important to remember that these results cannot provide a complete assessment of historical and/or future long-term health risks, as they do not account for variation in mobile sources, variability in weather and climate conditions, increased use of air pollution controls by industry, fluctuation in production rates, and other methods of exposure (skin contact and ingestion) and only reflect the actual concentration of the air toxics on the days the measurements were taken. Jenkins AvenueAll results will be posted as they become available, most within 4 to 6 weeks from the date the sample is collected. Some results may not be available until the end of the sample study.
The key pollutants analyzed in the samples from this site and their concentrations
Concentrations of other toxic air pollutants analyzed in the samples
As a footnote to the table: It is important to remember that these results cannot provide a complete assessment of historical and/or future long-term health risks, as they do not account for variation in mobile sources, variability in weather and climate conditions, increased use of air pollution controls by industry, fluctuation in production rates, and other methods of exposure (skin contact and ingestion) and only reflect the actual concentration of the air toxics on the days the measurements were taken. Howard HeightsAll results will be posted as they become available, most within 4 to 6 weeks from the date the sample is collected. Some results may not be available until the end of the sample study.
The key pollutants analyzed in the samples from this site and their concentrations
Concentrations of other toxic air pollutants analyzed in the samples
As a footnote to the table: It is important to remember that these results cannot provide a complete assessment of historical and/or future long-term health risks, as they do not account for variation in mobile sources, variability in weather and climate conditions, increased use of air pollution controls by industry, fluctuation in production rates, and other methods of exposure (skin contact and ingestion) and only reflect the actual concentration of the air toxics on the days the measurements were taken. |
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