St. Helens Elementary is one of 62 schools nationwide that will be tested for dangerous levels of toxic air pollution.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tests was sparked by a December newspaper report that ranked the Longview school among the worst 5 percent nationally for air quality.

The 60-day study is expected to start in the next month or two. EPA is still purchasing equipment for the study — which is expected to cost $2.25 million. Only two Washington schools, St. Helens and Concord Elementary in Seattle, will be examined.

EPA will use what it learns from this monitoring initiative to determine its next steps as it works to protect children’s health where they live, play and learn, according to an EPA press release this week.

Madonna Narvaez, a regional manager for the EPA study, said the EPA wants to address concerns mentioned in the USA Today report.

The newspaper report did not conclude that the emissions here or elsewhere are making kids sick, but it says that possibility exists.

The Longview-Kelso airshed has long had the reputation of being among the most polluted in the state because of its high concentration of heavy industry. However, while agencies collect self-reported air pollution statistics from industries, they don’t tally air pollution from other major sources, such as cars and gas stations.

Longview School District Spokeswoman Sandy Catt said the district looks forward to participating in the EPA study.

“If there’s more information we need to know, we’d be happy to participate,” Catt said. “We fully plan to work with the Southwest Clean Air Authority.”

The Vancouver-based Southwest Clean Air Agency will conducting the study for EPA, said Laurie Hulse-Moyer, air quality specialist for the agency. School bus and vehicle pollution also need to be considered in the air quality study, not just a school’s proximity to industrial facilities, she said.

“I’m hoping we can have the study in at least part of the school year. The direction from headquarters is this needs to be done promptly,” she said.

The St. Helens study will be testing for carbon monoxide, toxic metals (such as lead, nickel and manganese) and compounds such as benzene and vinyl chloride, Hulse-Moyer said.

According to the newspaper study, four Longview schools — St. Helens Elementary, Olympic Elementary, R.A. Long High School and Monticello Middle School — ranked in the top 10 percentile for schools with the most polluted air across the nation. Rankings of other Longview schools, including its two church-affiliated schools, ranged from the 11th and 18th percentile.

Still, Hulse-Moyer cautions the sampling model used by USA Today appears to only offer a snapshot of a single sampling. More work is needed to evaluate air quality risks, she said.

“With one sample you can’t tell much,” she said.