August 20, 2025
New Report Reveals Persistent Environmental Risks Facing Pennsylvania Schoolchildren
Pittsburgh, PA— Today, 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:
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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 ofthird‐party certified green cleaning standards, and noncompliance ofanti‐idling policies are widespread. Notably, some schools are concerned with PFAS and are reviewing their municipal drinking water testing results.
“ 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
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