Cumulative risk assessment for public schools in a predominantly poor, minority and heavily industrialized area of Louisiana

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This research aimed to characterize environmental conditions of public schools in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, US. METHODS: Estimates of health risks, both cancer and non-cancer, were derived for children at all school locations in the parish, from: 1) inhalation of chloroprene for all relevant schools ( 2.0 miles from an industrial source), and 2) inhalation of all facility emissions for all schools in the parish (cumulative risks). Risks of concern were identified based on EPA recommended guidelines (1 cancer per 10,000 people exposed). Other data such as biomonitoring data, health statistics, and state investigations were evaluated to determine if community exposures and expected adverse health outcomes are or may be occurring. RESULTS:Health statistics suggest that adverse health outcomes associated with industry emissions may be occurring. Air monitoring data, risk estimates and biomonitoring data suggest that chloroprene air concentrations exceed health-based guidelines. In addition, health symptoms impacting students at one site have been associated with ethylene oxide. Community asthma-, and cancer-specific health statistics support a need for further investigation of potential acute and chronic impacts. CONCLUSIONS:Given the number of chemicals released, their emitted volumes, and variability in the mixtures residents are exposed to, it is difficult to quantify risk without some degree of error. And while no clear relationship between health and exposure measures can be determined, proactive measures should be taken to reduce children’s exposures. Gaps in our understanding of long-term health impacts of early-life exposures to chloroprene and different chemical mixtures, a history of industrial accidents in the area, and audit determinations documenting lax state regulatory oversight, enforcement, and risk communication, should propel school administrators to move children away from high-risk locations, as potential lifelong impacts on developing children could outweigh any economic benefits these emissions pose for industry. KEYWORDS: Cumulative risk assessment, chloroprene, ethylene oxide, schools, industry