Why Indoor Air Quality is Important to Your School

Understanding IAQ Problems and Solutions

Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants

Building Occupants

How do I know if there is an IAQ problem?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Basics for Schools

Why Indoor Air Quality is Important to Your School

Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but many do not know that indoor air pollution can also cause harm. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concerns, because it is estimated that most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Comparative risk studies performed by EPA and its Science Advisory Board have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top four environmental risks to the public.

Failure to prevent indoor air problems in school, or failure to act promptly, can have consequences such as:

• increasing the chances for long-term and short-term health problems for students and staff
• impacting the student learning environment, comfort, and attendance
• reducing productivity of teachers and staff due to discomfort, sickness, or absenteeism
• faster deterioration and reduced efficiency of the school physical plant and equipment
• increasing the chance that schools will have to be closed, or occupants temporarily moved
• straining relationships among school administration, and parents and staff
• creating negative publicity that could damage a school's or an administration's image and effectiveness
• creating potential liability problems

Indoor air problems can be subtle and do not always produce easily recognized impacts on health, well being, or the physical plant. Children are especially susceptible to air pollution. For this and the reasons noted above, air quality in schools is of particular concern. Proper maintenance of indoor air is more than a "quality" issue, it includes safety and good management of our investment in the students, staff, and facilities.

Good indoor air quality contributes to a favorable learning environment for students, productivity for teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well being for school occupants. These combine to assist a school in its core mission -- educating children.