What is it about?
Almost 10,000 K12 public and private schools in the US (8%) are located within a quarter mile of a toxic site tracked by the Environmental Protection Agency. Native, Black, Hispanic, and low-income students are far more likely to attend schools in close proximity to these known environmental hazards.
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Why is it important?
Studies document that the pollution and chemicals released from toxic sites have direct negative effects on children's health and learning. Students who attend schools that are in close proximity to toxic sites are at heightened risk of exposure to the harmful materials and waste produced at these sites.
Perspectives
Creating safe and healthy learning environments is critical for students' success. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring air, soil, and water quality at schools, investing in modern school facilities to minimize exposure to pollution, and crafting regulations to ensure schools are located in safe places.
Matthew Kraft
Brown University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: US schools’ proximity to environmental hazard sites: A national analysis, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, August 2026, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2609567123.
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