Indoor Air Quality

The following information came from www.epa.gov.
EPA developed the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Program to reduce exposures to indoor environmental contaminants in schools through the voluntary adoption of sound indoor air quality management practices.
The IAQ Tools for Schools Program is a comprehensive resource to help schools maintain a healthy environment in school buildings by identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems. Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. In addition, if schools fail to respond promptly to poor IAQ, students and staff are at an increased risk of short-term health problems, such as fatigue and nausea, as well as long-term problems like asthma.
Since its release in 1995, the IAQ TfS Action Kit has been implemented in hundreds of schools across the country. School districts that have implemented IAQ TfS find that there are common elements to successfully implementing the program.
Follow the links below to information prepared especially for you!
School and District Officials
Teachers and Students
Facilities Staff
Parents
Health Care Professionals
The Media
Envisioning Excellence: Lessons from Effective School Indoor Air Quality Programs. Read about this exciting new tool at www.iaqsymposium.com/
Organizing a program with a committed group of individuals dedicated to ensuring good IAQ and with clear support from senior management
Assessing current IAQ conditions and issues
Creating a Plan outlining a strategic approach to identifying, resolving, and preventing IAQ problems
Taking Actions to improve IAQ in the school that lead to increased student and staff health and productivity
Evaluating the IAQ management program by tracking and assessing results
Communicating the intent, results, and next steps of the IAQ management program
The IAQ TfS Program assists school districts in identifying the actions they can take to successfully plan and implement and effective IAQ management Program.
Products and Materials
The IAQ Tools for Schools Program provides a variety of products, materials, and tools at no cost to help schools implement an indoor air quality management program. In addition to the IAQ TfS Action Kit, specialized fact sheets, brochures, and software programs are available to provide in-depth information on environmental topics. Available products include the following:
School Advanced Ventilation Engineering Software (SAVES)
The School Advanced Ventilation Engineering Software (SAVES) package is a tool to help school designers assess the potential financial payback and indoor humidity control benefits of Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) systems for school applications.
Visit the SAVES Website
You can download the EFast and IHAT programs directly from our Website
You can obtain a copy of the SAVES CD-Rom EPA-402-C-04-004, 2004
How to Order EPA Publications
These indoor air quality publications are available via the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP):
P.O. Box 42419Cincinnati, OH 42419www.epa.gov/ncepihom
A Toll-free phone service with live customer service representative assistance at NSCEP and is available Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm eastern time. Voice Mail is available after operating hours. Call 1-800-490-9198. You can fax your requests to (301) 604-3408. E-mail is also available: nscep@bps-lmit.com
Please use the EPA Document Number, which is usually bolded or highlighted, when ordering from NSCEP.
Managing Asthma in Schools
Managing School IAQ
Common Symptoms
Managing Asthma in Schools
Starting a Program
Building Design, Maintenance and Operations
Read EPA’s Managing Asthma in the School Environment HTML PDF (24 pp, 822 K, About PDF) to learn about environmental asthma triggers commonly found in schools and ways to reduce student and staff exposure to triggers in your school.
Asthma Management: A Priority for Schools
An average of one out of every 13 school-age children has asthma
Asthma is a leading cause of school absenteeism
14.7 million school days are missed each year due to asthma
Asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers
Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects 20 million Americans, including 6.1 million children. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers.
Controlling Common Asthma Triggers Found in Schools
Many factors found in the indoor and outdoor environment can cause, trigger, or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Some common environmental asthma triggers found in schools are listed below, along with suggestions for managing each common trigger:
Asthma Triggers Found in Schools
Asthma Management Tips for Schools
Environmental Tobacco Smoke - Environmental tobacco smoke is a mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Read More...
Eliminate Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Enforce no-smoking policies in schools.
Pests - Cockroach body parts, secretions, and droppings, as well as the urine, droppings, and saliva of other pests (such as rodents) are often found in areas where food and water are present. Read More...
Control Pest Problems
Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to prevent cockroach and other pest problems (e.g., store food in tightly sealed containers and place dumpsters away from the building). Visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/ipm/index.htm for more information on IPM in schools.
Mold - Mold can grow indoors when mold spores land on wet or damp surfaces. In schools, mold is most commonly found in bathrooms, kitchens, basements, around roof seams and plumbing, and in portable classrooms and trailers. Mold can grow anywhere that moisture is present. Read More...
Clean Up Mold and Moisture
Fix leaks and moisture problems and thoroughly dry wet areas within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. Clean hard, moldy surfaces with water and detergent, then dry thoroughly.
Dust mites - Dust mites are too small to be seen but can be found in almost every home, school, and building. Dust mites can be found in school carpeting, upholstered furniture, stuffed animals or toys, and pillows. Read More...
Reduce Dust Mite Exposure
Make sure schools are dusted and vacuumed thoroughly and regularly, and keep classrooms free of clutter. If stuffed toys are present, ensure they are washable and wash them regularly in hot water.
Animal dander - Pets' skin flakes, urine, and saliva are often found in classrooms and science labs. Any warm-blooded animal, including cats and dogs, may trigger asthma. Read More...
Control Animal Allergens
Remove classroom animals from the school, if possible. If not, locate animals away from sensitive students and ventilation systems.
To learn more about environmental asthma triggers commonly found indoors, visit Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers, or click on any of the environmental asthma triggers links listed above.
IAQ AND SCHOOLS
oor IAQ can lead to a large variety of health problems and potentially affect
comfort, concentration, and student and staff performance. Sources of poor IAQ in school facilities range from inadequate air ventilation systems to fumes from pesticides and cleaning agents. The IAQ Tools for Schools Kit helps schools pinpoint the sources of poor IAQ that often have simple and cost-effective remedies.
Successful Schools
Schools across the country have observed many health-related benefits from implementing the IAQ TfS Kit:
• Improvements in comfort levels and a decrease in IAQ-related complaints (King-Murphy Elementary School, Colorado).
• A reduction in IAQ complaints from one per month to three per year since 1997 (Shamona Creek Elementary School, Pennsylvania).

• A dramatic decrease in absenteeism, fewer reported bronchitis cases reported by school staff, an increase in comfort, and a 25-percent reduction in the number of visits to the school nurse with complaints of stomachaches and headaches within the first 5 months of implementing the Kit (Little Harbour School, New Hampshire).
• A decrease in the number of complaints from staff and students of headaches and sinus infections, the number of trips to the school nurse for asthma and asthma treatments, the use and storage of student inhalers at school, and symptoms of chronic respiratory illnesses (Hamden Public Schools, Connecticut).
•
■ A 50-percent reduction in visits to the office for the use of asthma inhalers

(G.W. Carver Elementary School, California).
• A reduction from 75 complaints related to health and faulty equipment in 1994 to fewer than 15 in 1999 (Okaloosa County School District, Florida).

2 In addition to health benefits, schools have saved thousands of dollars with the help of the IAQ TfS Program: ■ to an estimated $250,000 prior to 1997. ■ Kit. ■ “We received some great press from implementing the Kit—the local newspapers wrote several articles about our Healthy Schools Team.” —Robin Chappell, District Health Official, Boston, MA Since implementing the program in 1998, the Hillsborough County Public School District in Florida has spent only $400 on IAQ consultants, as compared The Janvier Elementary School in New Jersey spent nearly $100,000 to correct mold and flooding problems before beginning the program, after which minimal investment solved IAQ problems uncovered while implementing the IAQ TfS Nearly all IAQ complaints were resolved in-house at Monmouth Junction Elementary School in New Jersey at a total cost of less than $1,000. The improvements focused on preventive maintenance, integrated pest management, and the use of environmentally preferable cleaners.

ACTION ITEMS
• Be proactive in investigating IAQ problems in your school.
• Be alert to the symptoms of IAQ problems in your school.
• Use IAQ TfS checklists to assess your school’s indoor air quality.
• Fix IAQ problems as soon as they are discovered to avoid future costly repairs.

3 4 IAQ AND SCHOOLS Cost Savings and Maintenance ■ ■ replacement. ■ 1 Studies on the Effects of Poor IAQ implementing the ■ 3 4, 5, 6 “is the driving force of our preventive maintenance program in the Plano School District.” The IAQ TfS Program can help schools maintain their facilities and good IAQ to avoid expensive repairs. In a demonstration project in the District of Columbia, an analysis showed that if an elementary school had spent $364 per year on preventive maintenance, $1.6 million in repairs could have been avoided. The General Accounting Office reports that one-third of schools (housing about 14 million students) have one or more buildings in need of extensive repair or The average public school is 42 years old, and school buildings begin rapid deterioration after 40 years if not properly maintained.Studies have shown that poor IAQ can have a negative impact on the health of students and faculty members. By IAQ TfS Program, schools can minimize problems associated with poor IAQ. Higher levels of nitrogen dioxide (a byproduct of combustion sources**) in schools have been associated with increased student absences, even at levels within existing health standards.Similarly, increased absences were also found to be associated with higher levels of outdoor pollution. IAQ Tools for Schools —Robert Sands, Executive Director of Facilities, Plano Independent School District, TX ** Combustion sources can include kerosene heaters and unvented gas stoves and heaters. 5 “We keep a log of student visits to our health room and, even during allergy season, student visits declined dramatically. We attribute this to the IAQ TfS Kit.” Mold on joist, photo by Daniel Friedman —Leigh Abbott, Principal, Shamona Creek Elementary School, PA
IAQ AND SCHOOLS
■ Respiratory effects have beenassociated with chemical pollutantsthat can be found in schools, such asformaldehyde7 and chemicals incleaning compounds.8, 9
■

Office workers perceived a reduction in their performance with two or more symptoms of discomfort. Average performance reduction: 3 percent with three symptoms, 8 percent with five symptoms.

13

Studies on Performance
■ Controlling pollutant concentrationsStudies have shown that schools can
help maintain or even improve thecomfort and performance levels ofstudents and faculty members byenhancing IAQ.
by removing pollutant sources or by increasing ventilation improved the measured performance of office workers.14
Studies on Temperature and Humidity

■ For students, lower concentrations of carbon dioxide (higher ventilation rates) Studies suggest that fluctuations in were associated with higher scores on temperature and humidity can have an computerized tests for reaction time.10 impact on comfort and concentration

levels of students and staff.
• There is a significant relationshipbetween facility condition andstudent achievement, based on testscores in 139 public schools inMilwaukee, Wisconsin, in math,

■

Indoor air is perceived to be better when temperature and/or humidity are toward the low end of the comfort zone.

15, 16, 17

science, language, and social studies.

11

■ While evidence is mixed, it tends

■ A statistically significant reduction inperceived mental performance amongstudents was associated with increasedindoor pollutant concentrations and
to suggest an association between
improved performance and lower
temperatures within the comfort
zone.18, 19, 20
lower ventilation rates.12
“The most noticeable improvements [as a result of implementing the
IAQ TfS Kit] came from our portable classrooms. The CO2 levels
dropped considerably, and the school nurse noticed fewer complaints
from students that were housed in those outside classrooms.”
—Mike Riddle, Facilities and Grounds Manager, Sedro-Woolley School District, WA
6
“The Kit’s information helped to identify and explain potential IAQ problems while also providing legitimacy to the complaints submitted to the Board of Health.”
—Todd Dresser, Environmental Engineer, Burlington Board of Health, MA
Mold behind wallboard and water damage to subflooring in a New York City building, photo by Daniel Friedman
7 8 concerned about indoor exposure to Schools with Mold ■ used the Program to identify and ■ aspect of the cleaner and healthier after implementing the MOLD AND SCHOOLS “If we’d had in place for the past ten years, none of [our severe problems with carbon dioxide and mold] would have happened.” While the IAQ TfS Kit helps schools learn how "Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" document provides detailed information on how to investigate, evaluate, and remediate moisture and mold cost, call the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318. chools have become increasingly mold, which can lead to a variety of health effects, including allergic reactions. Not isolated to “humid” states, mold problems have caused school closings across the nation from Arizona to Maine, California to Florida. The IAQ Tools for Schools Program can help schools identify potential sources of mold before they become severe. El Paso Independent School District in Texas IAQ TfS eliminate a significant mold problem, including mold in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning ducts. St. Cloud Area School District in Minnesota found mold infestations in some schools during the walkthroughs, which are a key IAQ TfS Program. The schools are Kit and repairing water-damaged areas. IAQ Tools for Schools —Diane Ethier, Co-Chair of the IAQ Tools for Schools Team, Plainfield High School, CT to prevent mold growth, EPA's problems. To order this EPA publication at no
Minimizing Cost of Mold Remediation
Schools can avoid significant, costly repairs by implementing the IAQ TfS Program to help prevent mold problems or address them before they become severe.
■ School districts have spent from $200,000 to $13.1 million to remediate a school with a severe mold problem, so it is important to identify the problem in its early stages when damage is limited.
An elementary school in El Paso Independent School District, Texas, spent
$300,000 in repair work due to mold.Saline Middle School in Washtenaw County, Michigan, spent $500,000 tosolve the mold problem associated with their ceiling tiles.
District 303 spent $13.1 million on the mold cleanup and repair project atSt. Charles East High School, Illinois, after closing the school due to moldproblems.
Bedford County School Board in Florida spent $750,000 to replace JeffersonForest High School’s roof, but another $1.6 million was needed toremediate the mold problem at the school.
Yuma High School, Arizona, spent more than $5 million to clean up its
mold problem.Washington Elementary School, Michigan, spent more than $200,000 toclean up its mold problem.
■ To relocate students from moldy schools in Portland, Maine, the school district spent $100,000 every three months to rent rooms in downtown buildings.
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ACTION ITEMS
• Be alert to signs of water damage near windows, on ceilings, and on walls in classrooms and hallways.
• Use the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit to conduct walkthroughs to help identify mold problems before they become severe.
• Look for visible signs of mold or moldy odors throughout your school.

9 10 Mold on ceiling in a Georgia elementary school, photo by Daniel Friedman Studies on Mold and on Dampness ■ 21, 22 ■ diagnosed asthma.23 Schools can reduce triggers for asthma by following the guidance “ — Managing Asthma in the School Environment." at no cost, call the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318. Studies have found an association between mold and a variety of adverse health effects. For example, mold is a known asthma trigger. Controlling dampness in buildings is extremely important in that dampness has been consistently associated with respiratory symptoms, asthma, and allergies, and therefore represents a risk factor for respiratory problems. Dampness or mold in the home have been associated with wheezing, prolonged cough, fatigue, and headache among children without presented in EPA's document, IAQ Tools for SchoolsTo order this EPA publication ASTHMA AND SCHOOLS implementing the Program. Economics ■ based on attendance. ■ estimated at $11.3 billion in 1998. Studies on Asthma ■ 24 ■ 7 ■ 25 sthma affects about 15 million people of all ages, including 1 out of every 13 school-age children. Asthma has become increasingly common in children, particularly in 5- to 6-year olds. Schools can decrease children’s exposure to triggers for asthma, such as animal dander, cockroaches, mold, and dust mites, by IAQ Tools for Schools Asthma is a primary cause of school absenteeism, accounting for 10 million missed school days per year. Absenteeism directly affects school funding, which is often Asthma is the most common and costly chronic illness in the United States, Exposure to mold has been associated with increased severity of asthma symptoms. Asthma prevalence in schools has been associated with higher relative air humidity, higher concentrations of volatile organic compounds, and mold or bacteria. Reported asthmatic symptoms were less common in schools that had installed a new ventilation system. The new system resulted in higher air-exchange rates, lower concentrations of several airborne pollutants, and lower relative humidity.
ACTION ITEMS
• Encourage the school nurse to alert school administrators about an increase in health problems such as asthma, wheezing, and persistent coughing.
• Use the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit to identify triggers for asthma and minimize children’s risk of developing respiratory problems.
• Minimize all asthma triggers in schools such as mold, dust mites, animals, and cockroaches.

11 12 “We saw a significant decrease in the absenteeism rates of children, especially for a child with severe asthma attending the school, since we completed the IAQ upgrades.” —Priscilla Santiago, “Fewer students keep asthma medicine and inhalers at school, and asthma episodes are less frequent even though the number of students with asthma has not changed.” School Nurse, Little Harbour School, NH —School Health Programs Department, San Francisco Unified School District, CA 13
ON ASTHMA 26,000 new asthma cases arise in children of school-age has asthma. The percentages are rising more rapidly in preschool-age children than in any other group. asthma in children have nearly tripled over the last 15 years. • African-American and Hispanic populations are more likely to have asthma. REFERENCES 1 Impact a Child's Education? Brief. 3 with indoor nitrogen dioxide exposure in Int J Epidemiol4 Epidemiology5 with air pollution in areas around arterial J Epidemiol6 air pollution. 7 Clin Exp Allergy8 cleaning materials as a cause of occupational 9 Specific Cleaning Products Among Spanish , 27:76-81. 10 2 Quality and Climate11 Issuetrak. December 2000. 12 International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate13 International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate
FACTS • An estimated 8,000 to children each year. • Nearly 1 in 13 • Deaths related to Asthma and Wheezing Among Seattle’s Environ Health Perspect, 105(2):208-14. National Academy of Sciences, Committee on the Assessment of Asthma and Indoor Air. . National Academy Press. Washington, DC. Smedje G. and Norback D. 2000. New Ventilation Systems at Select Schools in Sweden–Effects on Asthma and Exposure. Arch , 55(1):18-25. Other useful resources for schools (available at no cost) include: Indoor Air Quality: • Indoor Air Quality and Student Performance • Schools Case Studies • Schools Roadmap • Schools Bulletins • Pesticides: Uses, Effects and Alternatives to Pesticides in Schools Health: • Breathe Easier • Children and Secondhand Smoke • Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders • Setting the Record Straight: Secondhand Smoke is a Preventable Health Risk • Secondhand Smoke: What Decisionmakers, and Building Occupants Radon: • Radon in Schools Brochure • Reducing Radon in Schools: • Radon Measurement in Schools • Radon Prevention in the Design and Construction of Schools and Other Large Buildings For a complete listing of available resources, or to order any of these documents, call the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318. Indoor Air Quality Tools for Indoor Air Quality Tools for Indoor Air Quality Tools for Clear Your Home Of Asthma Triggers: Your Children Will You Can Do As Parents, A Team Approach EPA offers many resources at no cost. Some of these include:
• The IAQ Tools for Schools Kit
• Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings
• Managing Asthma in the School Environment

For a complete list of EPA's resources, visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq. To order a document, call the IAQ INFO Clearinghouse at (800) 438-4318, fax (703) 356-5386, or e-mail iaqinfo@aol.com.
United States

Recognition
The IAQ TfS National Awards Program serves as an incentive for schools to start the program and is designed to recognize schools for their achievements in improving IAQ. Schools can apply for a variety of awards and receive recognition for starting a program or for showing exemplary improvement in IAQ management. Read more... The application deadline for applying to the 2007 Excellence Award, Special Achievement Award, and Model of Sustained Excellence Award