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Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools

The Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and Warren Elementary School - Marietta, OH, and Neale Elementary School - Vienna, WV

Results and Analysis of EPA’s monitoring

EPA selected these three schools because they are located near a large manganese ore processing (ferroalloy production) facility, Eramet Marietta, Inc. (Eramet) that emits air toxics, including manganese.  Air monitoring data previously collected by Ohio EPA identified elevated levels of manganese in the air near the facility.  Computer models were also used to determine which air toxics may be present at elevated levels in outdoor air near the schools.  In addition to manganese, these models showed that lead might also be present in the air around two of the schools (The Ohio Valley Educational Service Center and Warren Elementary School), which are located near an electric power generating facility that is a source of lead.

Primary Findings Levels of manganese in outdoor air at the schools indicate a potential for levels of health concern for long-term continuous exposure, particularly in areas of the community closer to the sources of emissions than those monitored.

Additionally, levels of lead, another key pollutant at two of the schools (Ohio Valley and Warren) for which there are national standards for ambient (outdoor) air are below the level of the national standard for protection of public health.
Key Pollutants Monitored Manganese. Inhalation may affect the nervous system if people are exposed to high levels.
Lead. Inhalation and ingestion may affect the developing nervous system if people are exposed to high levels.
Next Steps EPA recommends and will support additional monitoring for manganese in locations closer to the manufacturing facility than the current monitoring locations to better characterize any reductions in emissions.  Reductions may be achieved based on potential actions taken at the facility independently, as a result of review of the Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standard for ferroalloys production, or as a result of a review of the need for additional risk-based standards for this type of facility.  EPA remains concerned about emissions from sources of air toxics and continues to work to reduce those emissions across the country through national rules.

The ferroalloys production facility, Eramet, has indicated to the EPA that they will be replacing the emission control device on one of their furnaces with a more efficient control device sometime in 2011.  If completed, this control replacement should create reductions in particulate matter resulting in reductions in manganese.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) will continue to oversee industrial facilities in the area through air permits and other programs. 

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Summary of Study Approach and Findings

Approach:

  • A monitor collected air samples from August 17, 2009 through November 15, 2009 at the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center (Ohio Valley) and Warren Elementary School (Warren) in Marietta, Ohio, and at Neale Elementary School (Neale) in Vienna, West Virginia.  Manganese was a key pollutant of interest at all three schools.  Lead was also a key pollutant at Ohio Valley and Warren. 
  • We posted individual air sample results on the websites for these schools (Ohio Valley, Warren, and Neale) throughout the monitoring period to keep your community informed during the monitoring period.
  • During the monitoring period, we evaluated the monitored concentrations to see if there was a concern from short-term exposures (e.g., several weeks).
  • When the monitoring was complete, we analyzed the results to see if there was a concern from long-term exposures (over a lifetime).
  • Also, when the monitoring was complete, we evaluated all the air samples from the on-site monitor. We also evaluated information on wind speed and wind direction from a weather monitor at the school, along with historical weather information and information about the nearby sources of manganese and lead emissions.

Findings:

  • Our analysis of the monitoring results for manganese at all three schools found a potential for levels that might be of health concern for long-term continuous exposures to manganese, particularly in locations closer to the source where higher concentrations would be expected.  Based on all the results, we did not identify concerns regarding short-term exposure.
  • Additionally, at two of the schools (Ohio Valley and Warren), levels of lead, a key pollutant for which there are national standards for ambient (outdoor) air, are below the national standard for protection of public health.
  • The analysis indicates that manganese concentrations in the air near the schools are influenced by the identified source and are as high as those suggested by the information that helped identify the schools for monitoring.
  • The process to identify schools for monitoring relied on emissions estimates and other information.  This ambient air monitoring at these schools provided measurements of what was actually in the air at those locations.
  • The most recently available manganese and lead emissions estimates for the metals manufacturing facility and the electric generating unit from the 2008 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) are significantly lower than the estimates used to identify these schools for monitoring. 
  • Based on these findings, EPA recommends additional air toxics monitoring at a location closer to Eramet to better characterize any reductions in emissions due to actions taken by the facility independently, as a result of review of the Maximum Achievable Control Technology standard for ferroalloys production, or as a result of the review of the need for additional risk-based standards for this type of facility.
  • Click here for additional information

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How We Analyzed the Information We Collected at this School

The analysis considered whether the information collected at each school might raise concerns for the health of children or adults at the school. We looked at the following types of information:

  • Measured manganese and lead concentrations and information on manganese and lead
  • Measured wind direction and wind speed at the school
  • Information about nearby sources of manganese and lead emissions

Analysis of Measured Manganese Concentrations:

1. Calculate the average: We calculated the average of the manganese measurements (shown by the black diamond in the graph below). We compared this average to the long-term comparison level (thick line on the graph below).  The long-term comparison level represents a level of manganese in the air that is below levels associated with health concerns, even if someone breathed air containing manganese at that level all day, every day over their lifetime.

Result:  The average manganese level for the samples collected was above the long-term comparison level.   There is a potential for levels of health concern for long-term, continuous exposure, particularly in areas closer to sources where concentrations are higher.  

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2. Calculate a range: To account for varying air concentrations of manganese, we calculated a range around the average.  We did this by estimating high and low values that the longer-term concentrations might reach using common statistical tools.  We compared the highest point in the range (called the “upper bound”) to the long-term comparison level.

Result: The high end of the range is higher than the comparison level. There is a potential for levels of health concern for long-term, continuous exposure, particularly in areas closer to sources where concentrations are higher. 

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Analysis of Measured Lead Concentrations:

1. Calculate the average: We calculated the average of the lead (TSP) measurements (shown by the black diamond in the graph below).  We compared this average to the long-term comparison level (thick line on the graph below).  The comparison level is the level of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for lead.

Result:  The average lead level for the samples collected was well below the comparison level.   The health concern is low.

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2. Calculate a range: To account for varying air concentrations of lead, we calculated a range around the average. We did this by estimating high and low values that the longer-term concentrations might reach using common statistical tools. We compared the highest point in the range (called the “upper bound”) to the comparison level.

Result: The high end of the range is lower than the comparison level. The health concern is low.

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Analysis of Measured Wind Direction and Wind Speed at the School

We took measurements of wind direction and speed every day during the sample period. We took special note of the wind speed and direction on the days we took measurements of manganese and lead.

What we looked at What we found
We looked at whether the wind data taken on the days we took measurements of the key pollutants are similar or different from the wind patterns during the entire sampling period. We found the wind patterns taken on the days we took measurements of manganese and lead are somewhat similar to those observed during the entire sampling period.
We looked at whether the wind pattern during the sampling period is reflective of regional wind pattern over the long term. Although we lack long-term wind data at the monitoring sites, the wind pattern at the NWS site during the sampling period is generally similar to the historical long-term wind flow pattern at that location.  This suggests that, on a regional scale, the 2-month sampling period may be representative of year-round wind patterns.

Analysis of Information on Nearby Sources of Manganese and Lead Emissions

What we looked at What we found
Whether we could determine if the sources were operating as usual during the sampling period. Eramet was operating slightly below what has been its average operating level for the last five years.  The facility emitting lead was operating at usual conditions and is expected to close by December 2012.
The concentrations of manganese measured at all three schools are as high as those suggested by the information that helped identify these schools for monitoring.  The concentrations of lead measured at Warren and Ohio Valley lower than those suggested by the information that helped identify these schools for monitoring.
The nearby sources of manganese and lead have Title V operating permits issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that includes operating requirements.

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Additional Information

Technical Report for School: Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools:The Ohio Valley Educational Service Center (Marietta, OH), Warren Elementary School (Marietta, OH), and Neale Elementary School (Vienna, WV) (PDF) (40pp, 2.6 MB). The technical report is geared toward risk assessors, risk managers, and other regulatory agencies. 

Background on School Monitoring Effort

General Questions and Answers for School Monitoring Effort

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