One in every three schoolchildren in America today attends a school within the vulnerability zone of a hazardous chemical facility. We value our children and do everything we can to keep them safe. Yet, one area that has proved surprisingly resistant to effective oversight is toxic chemicals.



Shortly before 8 p.m. on April 17, 2013, a fertilizer storage and distribution facility in West, Texas exploded, killing 15 people, injuring more than 200, and destroying over 150 buildings, including three schools. Had the explosion occurred during the day, scores of children could have died. This is not an isolated case. In August 2012, the release of a toxic cloud from a Chevron refinery sent 15,000 residents of Richmond, California to the hospital with respiratory problems. In January 2014, toxic chemicals used in coal processing leaked into the Elk River in West Virginia, contaminating the water of 300,000 people in nine counties. Hazardous facilities are reporting safety incidents every day. With an aging industrial infrastructure in close proximity to major population centers, and fewer state and federal staff to inspect these facilities, the risks are growing. But we can change this. There are practical, immediate steps we can take to reduce the chemical hazards in communities across the country and to reduce the risks our children face. Our report Kids in Danger Zones, examines the number of children who attend a school located within the self-reported vulnerability zone of over 3,400 high-risk chemical facilities in the U.S. and offers ways we can take action today to keep our kids safe.

