New research from the University of Cincinnati shows that nearly a third of U.S. schools are located within a quarter-mile of major highways, posing a significant air pollution threat to students.
"UC researchers have found that more than 30 percent of American public schools are within 400 meters, or a quarter mile, of major highways that consistently serve as main truck and traffic routes."
"Research has shown that proximity to major highways-and thus environmental pollutants, such as aerosolizing diesel exhaust particles-can leave school-age children more susceptible to respiratory diseases later in life."
"To protect the health of young children with developing lungs, new schools should be built further from major highways, says Sergey Grinshpun, PhD, principal investigator of the study and professor of environmental health at UC."
"'Health risk can be mitigated through proper urban planning, but that doesn't erase the immediate risk to school-age children attending schools that are too close to highways right now,' he adds. 'Existing schools should be retrofitted with air filtration systems that will reduce students' exposure to traffic pollutants.'"
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