"Public concern is growing that while laws require children to attend school, some school buildings may be unsafe or even harmful to children's health," the General Accounting Office told Congress in early 1995. GAO estimated that 14 million students attend schools needing extensive repair or replacement, and that about half of all schools reported at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition--a situation that affects over 20 million school children.

Poor indoor air quality in schools can threaten the health of students, teachers and staff. Compared to other buildings, schools are crowded: EPA notes that occupancy in schools is about four times that of office buildings. Conditions that affect air quality in schools thus can affect many people. Such conditions are quite common, according GAO: "Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were the most frequently reported building feature in need of [extensive] repair."

An estimated $111 billion would have to be spent to repair or upgrade America's schools to good overall condition. Financing for maintenance and repair of the nation's schools is almost exclusively a state and local responsibility, and in some locales, residents have been unable or unwilling to invest in their local schools.

But lack of investment in school infrastructure may have unexpected effects on school occupant health. To take only one example: Leaking roofs and malfunctioning plumbing can result in water problems that not only damage building materials, but also foster the growth of harmful mold, fungi, other microorganisms. Misguided efforts to treat such conditions as purely sanitation problems can result in the introduction of substances (like chlorine or phenol-based disinfectants) that not only may be inappropriate "solutions" to the problem they are meant to address, but also may degrade indoor air quality and harm school occupants who are allergic, asthmatic or sensitive.

Other indoor air contaminants can harm health, and may pose especially serious threats to school occupants. EPA has identified tobacco smoke and other combustion products, volatile organic compounds (chemicals that readily become gases at room temperature), and heavy metals (lead from peeling paint) as important -- and common -- causes of indoor air contamination. So-called "sick building syndrome" may result from poor design, maintenance or operation of ventilating systems, or from the build-up indoors of contaminants related to activities that take place indoors (such as cleaning or remodeling while the building is occupied).

The impact of indoor air pollution on children may be different -- and more severe -- than the impact of the same pollutants on adults. Environmental tobacco smoke exposures may result in childrens' frequent colds, ear infections and chronic ear problems, onset of asthma or worsening of pre-existing asthma, repeated bouts of pneumonia, and/or bronchitis. Acute lead poisoning may be manifested in children as irritability, stomach pain, clumsiness, seizures (which can vary in type, appearance and severity) or loss of consciousness. Dizziness, confusion, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, rapid heartbeat, eye and respiratory irritation, wheezing or chest tightness, and persistent cough can result from pollutants related to indoor stoves, space heaters, furnaces and other sources of combustion.

In children, such problems may be hard to differentiate from those with other causes that also affect children. Symptoms may be erroneously attributed to unrelated seasonal allergy, or to communicable diseases that periodically make the rounds of schools. "Behavior problems" may be attributed to children who are especially severely affected. Such problems may be viewed as strictly medical, and solely the responsibility of parents (and doctors) to resolve. But if the pollutants in the school that are causing these problems are not identified and removed, children may continue to experience ill-health.

Obviously, this situation can have serious negative impacts on the ability of affected children to learn. Absenteeism, impaired performance, inattention and "disruptive" behavior can result in poor test scores, low self-esteem, and teacher and parental frustration. Affected children may simply quit trying, and thus lose opportunities to grow, learn and become productive.

Luckily, many problems affecting indoor environments in schools can be prevented, mitigated, or solved at little or no cost. Proper identification of pollutants and their sources, and appropriate interventions to eliminate them or to mitigate their impact, can prevent many health problems arising from indoor air pollution in schools.

EPA has produced a comprehensive plan for taking such action. Called "Indoor Air Quality: Tools for Schools" it consists of guidance for school administrators, staff, teachers (and concerned parents). Background information, checklists, and sources for additional information (including HEAL) are included. The guidance offered is highly practical, and recognizes that school budgets may not include funds for expensive approaches to resolving environmental problems in schools. Instead, emphasis is on planning, use of alternative/less toxic materials and products, and recognition and prevention of situations that may have a negative impact on indoor air quality in schools.

Sometimes activities affecting school air quality -- and the children who must breathe school air -- can be so routine that they are not critically evaluated. HEAL's Governing Board commented to EPA on a draft version of "Tools for Schools:" "We believe that the use of disinfectants in the classroom is both fairly common (especially during cold and flu season) and inappropriate ... [and] that teachers should be questioned about it and instructed to discontinue such use .... Teacher use of pesticides is not uncommon, is also highly inappropriate, and should be forbidden.... It is not uncommon for the same person to have both food and food residues in the ... workspace area, and a can of pesticide spray in a nearby locker or closet ....The use of classroom [pesticide] sprays during outbreaks of head lice is both dangerous to school occupants and ineffective in controlling the pest ... Classroom use of room deodorizers, air fresheners, and other scented products is not uncommon and should be discontinued. The need for such products may indicate a sanitation or ventilation problem ....The use of air "freshening" products in the classroom for aesthetic reasons should be forbidden. We have received many complaints about ill effects arising from exposures to these products, which may contain allergens, irritants, and sensitizers."

Although there are serious environmental, structural and other problems in the nation's schools that require a national commitment of funds over time, it is not necessary to await such help before initiating action that will help protect the health of the nation's school children. Willing people using common sense and detective work, and effective use of existing materials, staff and schedules in an ongoing commitment to promoting good air quality in schools, can go far in improving existing conditions. This can have significant positive impacts on the health of school children and their ability to do their best in school.

-- Staff, The Human Ecologist

At a Glance --------------------------------------------------------------------

Kids and pollution

Quotable

Announcing a new federal policy regarding health risks to children from environmental exposure, EPA Administrator Carol Browner said, "We expect that this policy will encourage new, much-needed research to provide the child-specific data needed to thoroughly evaluate the health risks children and infants face from pollution. In the long run, healthier children mean healthier adults-- a great benefit to the nation."
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry noted,"Exposures to toxic substances can affect children's growth and development, and many harmful substances can be more easily absorbed by children's immature body tissues, causing severe illness...."

Kids and air pollution

4.2 million US children have asthma, an increase of over 30% in the last 15 years. American Lung Association, 1996
80% of Los Angeles children examined post mortem in 1990 had subclinical lung damage. California Air Resources Board, 1996
Damage to children's lungs from air pollution can impede lung development and may lead to chronic lung disease later in life. American Lung Association 1995
23.8 million children attend public schools with inadequate or unsatisfactory heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. GAO 1995

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