Three local schools are at the center of a nationwide study by the Environmental Protection Agency to monitor air quality for toxic chemicals.

There are 62 schools under scrutiny across the nation. Locally, Follansbee Middle School and Jefferson Primary School were ranked as being in the top 1 percent of schools with toxic air.

Lacroft Middle School in East Liverpool ranked in the ninth percentile and is also part of the study.

In a December 2008 USA Today article, areas like Follansbee were deemed "toxic hot spots." Researchers said the town's middle school is surrounded by health risks because of its proximity to industrial plants.

Researchers said the levels of chemicals are so dangerous that the risk of getting cancer is 50 times higher than what's acceptable.

---

Click Here To See How The Schools Ranked

---

Now, the EPA is reaching out to the three local schools and parents said they hope the agency makes things better -- fast.

Steve Henderson, who has a 6-year-old son at Lacroft Elementary in East Liverpool, said he is greatly concerned about air quality.

In plain view from the school is a smokestack for WTI, or Von Roll America Inc.

"It's too close. They're way too close," Henderson said. "With WTI right there -- now all the sudden they're looking into it."

WTI officials said they continuously work to provide the highest quality of service and will continue to do rigorous testing through the EPA. But that plant is just one among several other "polluters" that surround the elementary school and prompted the study of toxicity in the air.

Superintendent of East Liverpool City Schools Ken Halbert said he has a positive outlook on the study. He said whether people know it or not, the Ohio EPA has continuously monitored the air quality and just did a sample Monday.

Halbert said the new study is like a "double dose of protection coming from the national level." Still, parents like Henderson remain concerned.

"We always end up on the short end of the stick, and the kids are the ones that suffer."

---

Survey: Would you consider sending your child to a different school because of the health concerns "toxic air" poses?

---

Across the river in West Virginia, the air concern is even worse. Follansbee Middle School and Jefferson Primary School are ranked in the firstst percentile nationwide, meaning only 12 schools have worse air surrounding them.

The EPA's monitoring of these schools will begin as early as mid-April. EPA officials said, first and foremost, they do not want parents to be worried. They said just because the three local schools are on the list doesn't mean students are breathing contaminated air.

The schools were chosen partly based on information from a computer model partly because of their location, for example if they are in an urban industrial area or close to major roadways.

EPA officials said testing could begin immediately if there are air quality testing machines available in the local area. If the machines must be brought in, testing could begin in 60 to 90 days.

The agency is looking for dangerous gases and particle pollutants that could trigger asthma, learning disabilities or cancer in children.

But, the EPA urged parents not to jump to conclusions.

Alison Davis, of the EPA, said, "If your school is on the list, this is what it means: it means that there were questions raised about the air quality around the school. (The) EPA is going to get monitors out to find out what's in the air and from there we'll be able to figure out whether there are any health concerns."

Once the 60-day testing period is complete, the air quality samples will be sent to a lab. The agency then plans to release the data to the public.

Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.