Two recently released reports underline the potentially deadly dangers that American students face–not from gangs of bullies or concealed firearms but on a largely ignored but growing problem: environmental contamination of school institutions.

First, an Associated Press investigation found that the drinking water at thousands of schools across the country contains unsafe levels of lead, pesticides and dozens of other toxins. Second, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that caulk containing potentially harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that was used in schools in the 1950s through the 1970s, and is still installed in buildings, could potentially put students at risk.

Both contaminants are especially dangerous to children and young adults, who are more vulnerable to the effects of these and many other hazardous substances. This group has a much higher risk profile because of their age and close exposure to other students within educational institutions. To most of the population, pollution conditions such as mold, bacterial outbreaks and viral contamination are little more than an annoyance, whereas they are potentially devastating to this young population.