Memphis, TN -- A study released by
USA Today claims children at many Memphis schools are breathing some of the most toxic air in the country.
The study was done by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the University of Massachusetts and the University of Maryland, and took a look at emissions data from the EPA. Then researchers placed monitors near the worst schools, many in Shelby County.
Cromwell Elementary, Wooddale High School, Knight Road Elementary, Newberry Elementary, Sheffield Elementary and Overton High School all made the top one percent when it comes to toxic air. All these schools are located in southeast Memphis, east of the Memphis International Airport.
"I can't say those levels are safe but there's no imminent danger to anyone in the community," says Bob Rogers with the Memphis Shelby Health Department.
Rogers says the results are not accurate, because local company “SFI” overestimated its emissions output to the EPA, which skewed the data in the study.
Schools in Louisiana, West Virginia, Illinois and Pennsylvania topped the nation's dirtiest air list.
