Autor: |
Barros N; National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code: E205-04, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. barros.nilla@epa.gov., Tulve NS; National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Mail Code: E205-04, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. tulve.nicolle@epa.gov., Bailey K; Office of Science Policy, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 3355 Blue Rock Road, Cincinnati, OH 45239, USA. envsci@zoomtown.com., Heggem DT; National Exposure Research Laboratory, 944 East Harmon Avenue, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Las Vegas, NV 89119, USA. motoheggem2@gmail.com. |
Abstrakt: |
Children from tribes are more burdened with adverse respiratory well-being outcomes versus other U.S. children. The objectives of this study were to identify stressors from the built and natural environments for tribal school-aged children. Outdoor air concentrations around U.S. tribal schools were linked to National Emission Inventories; ecoregions and National Land Cover Database; and American Community Survey and school map layers. Nine school sites (seven tribes, five U.S. states) were in three ecoregions: North American Deserts, Northern Forests, and Mediterranean California. Closest emission sources were oil, gas, airport, and manufacturing facilities. Maximum annual outdoor air concentrations were measured for toluene at two schools (29 ppb and 15 ppb, 2011), located four miles from a solid waste landfill and eight miles from paperboard/saw mills. Maximum annual concentrations of metals in particulate matter 10 micrometers and smaller were highest for manganese (68 ng/m³, 2011). Schools were in mainly arid and heavily forested lands. Closest emission sources were predominantly off tribal lands. Measurements were limited (<30/year). Compared to schools off tribal lands, schools on tribal lands were further away from roadway sources. Future research may examine outdoor air quality around schools with more developed land and indoor air for tribal children's total exposure. |