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Status of Acrolein Monitoring at Schools

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April 1, 2010 -- Results of a recent short-term laboratory study have raised questions about the consistency and reliability of monitoring results for acrolein. This means that while we know that monitors are detecting acrolein in the air, we cannot determine how much. As a result, EPA will not use these acrolein data in evaluating the potential for health concerns from exposure to air toxics in outdoor air as part of the School Air Toxics Monitoring Project.

Acrolein is a widespread pollutant that comes from a wide variety of sources, including fires, cigarette smoke, the burning of fuels such as gasoline and oil, and from the breakdown of other chemicals in the air. At elevated concentrations, acrolein can irritate your eyes, nose and throat. EPA, states and local air quality agencies remain concerned about acrolein in the outdoor air and are working to reduce this pollutant across the country. We are working to make improvements to acrolein monitoring and analysis methods as part of our continuing effort to accurately measure levels of this pollutant in the air.

More information on EPA’s decision not to analyze acrolein data

Data from schools monitoring project

In the interest of transparency, EPA is making the acrolein data from the schools project available. These data are considered unreliable and should not be used for any analysis.

Archived information on acrolein at schools

 

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