44% of US pre-K-12 schools are near environmental hazard sites

More than three million American children attend pre-K-12 schools situated within a quarter mile of a known environmental hazard site, according to research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Brown University scientists determined that 8% of the nation's schools are within this proximity to hazardous sites, including Superfund locations, brownfields, or facilities tracking toxic releases.

Approximately 44% of pre-K-12 schools are less than a mile away from such sites, a distance associated with documented health and academic risks. Professor Matthew Kraft, co-author of the study, expressed shock at the prevalence of schools near toxic sites and industrial pollution. The researchers found that Native, Black, Hispanic, and low-income students are 124%, 86%, 43%, and 40% more likely, respectively, to attend schools within a quarter mile of a hazardous site.

They attributed this disproportionate risk to marginalized communities often hosting industrial facilities with limited ability to resist them. The study highlights the need for targeted monitoring of air, soil, and water quality, remediation efforts, school facility upgrades, and clearer communication of health risks to students, families, and staff.