Pittsburgh, PA — Aug. 20, 2025, Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) unveiled the State of Environmental Health in PA Schools 2025 report, the most comprehensive statewide assessment ever conducted on environmental hazards in the Commonwealth’s K–12 public schools. The findings, shared at a virtual press briefing, spotlight urgent threats that continue to compromise the health and success of children and staff across Pennsylvania.
The report exposes widespread lead exposure in water and paint, elevated levels of radon, frequent mold and moisture problems, poor air quality, and a troubling rise in synthetic turf fields. These conditions are especially acute in older buildings and disproportionately impact low-income and communities of color.
Key findings include:
- Lead in Water and Paint: Among districts testing their water, 94.8% found lead, but remediation remains rare. More than half of those testing paint discovered lead, with fewer than 12% addressing these hazards.
- Radon: Nearly all Pennsylvania counties are in the EPA’s highest risk category, yet only 5% of districts tested for radon; most did not act when hazards were found.
- Asthma Prevalence: Pennsylvania students face an average asthma rate of 13.9%, far exceeding the national mean. Disparities are most pronounced in Southeast PA.
- Synthetic Turf Expansion: 56.2% of districts now have artificial turf—up sharply in two years—raising new concerns over chemical and heat exposure, safety and waste.
- Other hazards: Mold in schools, lack of adoption of third-party certified green cleaning standards, and non- compliance of anti-idling policies are widespread. Notably, some schools are concerned with PFAS and are reviewing their municipal drinking water testing results.
- Aging Infrastructure: Nearly 60% of schools are more than 50 years old, making them on average 20 years older than the national school building stock.
“These results show that we have failed to make improvements to protect our children from environmental threats
while in school. We clearly need to prioritize public health policies and initiatives to ensure that our children have a healthy environment in which to learn and thrive,” said Dr. Deborah Gentile, Medical Director at Community Partners in Asthma Care.
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, Executive Director of Women for a Healthy Environment, stated:
“This report is a wake-up call, revealing a disturbing trend where Pennsylvania schools are identifying serious environmental hazards like lead and radon, yet consistently failing to take the necessary action to protect our students and staff. Our findings highlight an urgent need for stronger regulations and policies to ensure that every child has access to a safe and healthy learning environment, free from preventable health risks. We have the knowledge and tools to fix these problems. Now is the time for leadership and the moral courage to insist on healthy learning environments in every community across Pennsylvania.”
“It is unacceptable that Pennsylvania’s children and faculty, in 2025, are still ingesting environmental toxins every day they’re at school,” said Pennsylvania Senator Devlin Robinson. “I have been a strong proponent on bipartisan legislation that requires testing for lead and radon in schools since I first heard about the dangerous effects it has on growing bodies. I’m glad to be working across the aisle on this meaningful legislation, and I will continue to fight to get these bills across the finish line. Thank you to Women for a Healthy Environment for this eye-opening report and their advocacy in this important issue.”
WHY IT MATTERS:
Studies show that students’ academic performance is greater when they learn in a healthy environment. All students deserve to learn and school personnel deserve to work in environments free from avoidable harm. These findings make clear: solutions exist, but securing healthy schools will require swift action, equitable investment, and higher statewide standards.
“Environmental health isn’t just about compliance or risk management. it’s about creating optimal learning conditions that support every student’s potential. The upfront investments in environmental health improvements often pay dividends through reduced maintenance costs, improved attendance, better academic outcomes, and enhanced community trust.
Environmental health is an ongoing commitment, not a one-time project. Continuous improvement, and community engagement will ensure our efforts will create lasting positive impacts for students and staff.”
Dr. Tamara Allen-Thomas, Superintendent, Clairton City School District
