Healthy Schools PA, a program of Women for a Healthy Environment, was created to address environmental risk factors in the school environment and to provide solutions that result in a healthy setting, one in which children can thrive and learn, free from toxins. Some of these risk factors include cleaning supplies, mold, building renovations, bus idling, maintenance equipment, pesticides or radon.
To learn more about this program, visit the Healthy Schools PA website
Artificial turf raises health and environmental concerns for children and communities. These include toxic chemicals in the infill and synthetic grass carpet, higher temperatures compared with natural grass, and the potential for toxic chemicals from the artificial turf to pollute nearby water sources. Natural grass, especially when managed organically, is an affordable, practical, and safer alternative to artificial turf.
To learn more about this program, visit Artificial Turf Exposures page.
This mapping initiative uses publicly available data to identify potential environmental hazards located within a one-mile radius of a public school building in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. This ten-county region includes: over 336,000 children attending public schools, 674 public school buildings, 128 school districts and 7,040 square miles. This initiative mapped the following potential environmental hazards: air emission sources, gas wells (unconventional also known as Marcellus wells, as well as compressor stations), mining operations and active rail lines. This first phase reviewed public schools, charter schools and technical schools. Data was collected from the PA Department of Environmental Protection (gas wells, mining hazards), the PAMAP program (rail lines) and the Environmental Protection Agency (air emission sources).
Contact Women for a Healthy Environment with any questions, comments, or concerns. We will do our best to get back to you promptly. Thank you for your interest in our network!