EPA Notice of Elevated Particulate Measurements at Stuyvesant
April 17, 2002: Partculate Measurements
Sampling results from ATC, the Board of Education's environmental vendor, indicate elevated levels of respirable particulate matter (PM 2.5) outside and inside Stuyvesant on April 17.
EPA's daily limits for exposure to PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5µm) are 65 µg/m3 for adults and 40 µg/m3 for sensitive populations, including children (age 17 and younger). According to EPA, "some sensitive people might experience health problems after even short exposures to fine particles, such as several hours or a day."
ATC results indicate outdoor PM 2.5 levels at Stuyvesant measured 123 and 130 µg/m3 on April 17. Indoor levels ranged from 30 to 72 µg/m3, with an average of 49 µg/m3. Ninety two indoor measurements exceeded the EPA standard for children. Five exceeded the EPA standard for adults.
These indoor results demonstrate that Stuyvesant's filtration system (40% efficient at one micron) continues to permit outdoor contaminants to enter the school. In comparison, indoor measurements by Tiffany-Bader Environmental at BMCC, across the street, on the same date averaged only 8 µg/m3, due to BMCC's 95% efficient filters.
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