A local college professor who participated in the nation's most extensive study of air quality said he is not surprised about a recent study of air toxics.

Dr. Jim Slater, chairman of the chemistry department at Franciscan University of Steubenville, studied the air quality in Steubenville from 1974 to 1988 for Harvard University.

While the Harvard study looked into particulates that are polluting the air, the USA Today report looked into the air toxins that we breathe.

Slater said air toxins are pollutants that present in much smaller amounts.

---

Sound Off: Share Your Thoughts

---

The USA Today report named a number of local schools as some of the highest in the country exposed to these toxic chemicals.

Slater said this is a concern because Steubenville and the Ohio Valley is a high cancer area and it may be that our high cancer rates are because of these air toxins.

He said children are more suceptible to pollutants because they are growing and said more extensive research on air toxins is needed.