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Why Learn About School Air Quality

by
Sarah Brzezinski
Morgantown Generating Station and Potomac River bridge

Air; it’s all around us but we rarely think about how air quality impacts our lives. Early this year in a Toxic Schools edition of CNN’s Toxic America program, Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported that an estimated one third of public schools in the United States currently have indoor air quality problems. He also noted that the number of schools with air quality issues is likely to get worse due to budgetary restrictions in this difficult economic climate.

In addition to the variety of respiratory problems that have been linked to poor air quality, recent studies have also shown that indoor air quality can directly impact student health and academic performance. Children are especially vulnerable to environmental conditions, such as indoor air quality, because their bodies are still developing.

Why Should YOU Learn More About Air Quality

There is no better time than the present to learn about air quality, but if you need an extra reason to do so - tomorrow kicks-off Asthma Awareness Month! Poor air quality, indoors and outdoors, can cause and exacerbate asthma. In May 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Communities in Action Asthma Initiative will support local programs working to help people in their communities bring asthma under control.

Though there are currently no mandatory air quality standards specific to classrooms or schools in the United States, in March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its new, draft State K-12 School Environmental Health Program Guidelines for public comment. The voluntary adoption of this program by K-12 schools would be a great step towards improving air quality in our schools.

How Can YOU Learn More About Air Quality

There are a number of resources that can help school systems, administrators, teachers, and families create a healthy school environment and improve air quality. Some of these resources are linked below: