This is some really cool information. Combined with the recent nonattainment desigantion,prehaps we ought to work this up nto some kind of publicity to better inform local officials. This ought to be an issue for the School Board. The data suggest that Easton Elementary and Mylan park Elementary have the owrst air quality of all schools in the County. While these represent outdoor air quality, they should certainly inform the need for and deplyment of additional air quality monitors. It is worth noting that all schools in mon Coiunty are in the bottom third in the nation in terms of air quality.

Thanks Deb. JBK

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Dfvet@aol.com 12/27/08 11:17 AM >>>

Recently USA Today published results of its investigation into air quality in relation to schools. The first story focused primarily on the cancer hotspots and the link between air quality and disease in our youths. A second Special Report published December 22 described why children are physiologically more vulnerable than adults to the negative effects of air pollution.

According to the website _www.smokestack.usatoday.com_ (http://www.smokestack.usatoday.com) , of the 128,000 schools listed, Mon County's 27 public schools ranged in the 22nd to 31st percentile in national rankings. For example, Mylan Park Elementary ranks in the 22nd percentile. The air is worse at 32,000 of the 128,000 USA schools. You can see a complete list of the rankings of Mon County Schools at this site:http://content.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/smokestack/search/WV/MON...

USA Today special report takes the EPA to task for not attending to environmental health. Hope to see y'all soon. deb

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