Study: Pollution endangers kids

Gary Scharrer
Austin Burea
El Paso Times

Wednesday, March 5, 2003

AUSTIN -- Nearly 16,000 El Paso children attend schools near refineries whose toxic pollution creates a health risk, according to a study released Tuesday.

"I am extremely concerned, " said state Rep. Norma Chávez, whose district includes 28 of the 36 El Paso schools identified in the report. Many of the El Paso at-risk schools are near the Chevron refinery complex. Nearly 99,000 pounds of emissions were released near those schools.

Chevron officials did not respond to the results of the study.

The report does not show a direct impact from the pollution on children's health.

"But we're making it clear that the extraordinary level of toxic pollution released in proximity to where children go to school shows a clear risk that cannot be refuted, " said Denny Larson, coordinator of the study.

The report, "A is for Air Pollution II: The Chemical Threat to Texas Schools, " by the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition's Refinery Reform Campaign indicates that two-thirds of all the toxic pollution emitted by refineries and chemical plants is released in eight counties.

"Too many children in Texas go to school in the shadow of refineries and chemical plants that every year are allowed to release millions of pounds of toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other serious health problems, " Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, said.

Texas has no system to protect children from toxic pollution near schools, although youngsters are most vulnerable to air pollution, he said.

The report documenting the amount of toxic pollutants near Texas schools "highlights the need for an aggressive plan ... to protect children from toxins, " said Peter Altman, executive director of the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Coalition.

Turner plans to file legislation requiring the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to monitor the target schools with pollution detection equipment, to collect data and to evaluate the health of the children.

The legislation will include a $10,000 fine for companies that violate certain pollution thresholds.

"Without the sanction, the bill will be toothless, " Turner said.

Statewide, more than 142,000 children are considered at risk because of the locations of their schools. Of those children, 73 percent are Hispanic or African-American. In El Paso, 94 percent are Hispanic or African-American.

El Paso parents living near the targeted schools, Chávez said, "should get involved in the issue and recognize that their children are at risk. "

Air monitoring at the schools is important, she said. "It's an opportunity to take a serious look at what's happening in the schools regarding air pollution and toxic emissions that are coming from Chevron, " she said.

Web extras
The full report can be found at: www.refineryreform.org

El Paso schools identified in the report:

• Alta Vista Elementary School
• Ascarate Elementary School
• Burges High School
• Burleson Elementary School
• Cedar Grove Elementary School
• Cielo Vista Elementary School
• Clardy Elementary School
• Coldwell Elementary School
• Cooley Elementary School
• Del Norte Heights Elementary School
• Delta Academy
• Father Yermo (elementary and high schools)
• Hawkins Elementary School
• Henderson Middle School
• Hillside Elementary School
• Hughey Elementary School
• Immanuel Baptist
• Jefferson High School
• Loretto Academy (elementary, middle and high schools)
• Macarthur Middle School
• Radford
• Ramona Elementary School
• Ranchland Hills Elementary School
• Regional Day
• Ross Middle School
• Scotsdale Elementary School
• Silva Health Magnet School
• St. Joseph's
• St. Pius X
• Storybook
• Sunset High School
• Zavala Elementary School

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