Healthy Schools Day - An Important Reminder About Indoor Air Quality

Poor indoor air quality can affect children and staff.

Do you remember your school days and how stuffy those classrooms often got?

Bad air is more than a nuisance - it can actually be harmful to human health, aggravate respiratory conditions and stunt a child's productivity and learning capability.

As many schools in the United States celebrate Healthy Schools Day today, it is important to remind ourselves about what a difference a healthy environment can make in a child’s life.

Children are among the most vulnerable groups when it comes to indoor air pollution and environmental toxins, and with them spending so much time in school, administrators, parents and communities need to do their part to protect the young learners.

The average child spends about 1,300 hours in a school building each year; teachers and other employees spend even longer periods.

Common indoor air pollutants

Unfortunately, many schools are old or in poor condition, and children may be exposed in varying degrees to common indoor air pollutants such as

• Mold
• Chemicals (VOCs)
• Particles and allergens
• Biological contaminants
• Asbestos
• Lead
• Outdoor air pollutants from industrial emissions, vehicle emissions etc.

Exposure to indoor air pollution has been linked to respiratory problems, aggravated conditions, increased absenteeism, lower productivity and learning ability and other health effects.

With their Healthy Schools program, the EPA is trying to help schools provide a healthier learning environment and reduce indoor air pollution as much as possible.

It starts with people getting on the same page and making a Healthy School a priority, getting informed, making a plan and implementing changes.

How to improve air quality in schools

Some of the easy and effective changes could include:

• Opening the windows regularly, or the transom over the door to encourage natural air flow
• Keeping classrooms tidy and free of clutter
• Banning pets and foods in class to avoid pests (and blocking pest entry points)
• Using low-odor and non-toxic supplies such as water-based, unscented markers
• Banning plug-in air fresheners and room deodorizers
• Reducing the use of scented personal care products (perfume, cologne, scented hair sanitizers, etc.)
• Minimizing the use of disinfectants and using certified green cleaning products – or simply hot water and soap
• Reporting water leaks (however tiny) right away to avoid mold growth

Source: Electrocorp, NHSD Classroom Tips

Worried about airborne chemicals, asthma and allergy triggers and more?

AllerAir's 5000 Series, 6000 Series
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Whether it's at home or at school, we need to be mindful of the quality of air we are breathing.

A general-purpose room air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including irritating chemicals and VOCs, odors, allergens, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold.

HEPA filters alone only take care of particles and dust, a complete air filtration system needs a deep-bed activated carbon filter to adsorb chemicals, odors and gases.

AllerAir's portable and powerful room air purifiers can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants with their carbon + HEPA filtration system and other features.

For more information and recommendations, contact AllerAir.

Are your children exposed to radon in schools?

Schools and other buildings can expose occupants to radon.

National Radon Action Month may be over, but the invisible threat is a year-round problem.

The naturally occurring radioactive gas also does not care where or when it accumulates, so it may be present in homes, government buildings or schools at higher than acceptable levels.

Since one building can have high levels of radon while the one next to it doesn’t, experts recommend testing every home and building for radon. The best time for testing is the winter.

Radon enters buildings through cracks and fissures in the foundation or other opening in the building, and it can accumulate indoors.

The gas represents a health hazard when someone is exposed to high concentrations over a relatively long time (several decades). In fact, radon contributes to 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year.

In order to protect children from radon exposure in schools, some administrations are taking action.

The English Montreal School Board last year sent out a letter to the schools informing them of a new radon detection program instigated by the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sports (MELS).

New Health Canada guidelines lowered the acceptable levels of radon in the ambient air. In schools where radon concentration exceeds 200 Becquerel’s per cubic meter, which represents the maximum “safe” concentration under the new guidelines, remedial measures have to be taken.

In January 2012, radon detectors were installed in schools, which will be removed in the spring to be analyzed in a laboratory.

According to a Radio-Canada report from Jan. 30, the ministry of education decided to test all of Quebec’s primary and high schools for radon.

It’s a preventive measure, officials say.

School boards are required to test all their buildings for radon. The deadline for completion is July 1, 2014.

Mitigation techniques include special venting systems that vent the radon outdoors, sealing the cracks and fissure on the floor and more.

Radon is not the only indoor air quality issue affecting schools and school-aged children. To learn more about indoor air pollution and possible solutions, contact an AllerAir IAQ expert today.
 

How safe are your kids in school?

Many schools have poor indoor air quality that can affect
students as well as teachers and other staff members.

Mold spores drive away elementary school children, deemed a health risk

This is a guest post from Electrocorp Air Filtration Systems

Mold is a serious indoor air quality issue – so much so that an elementary school in Montreal had to send more than 400 students home.

Officials don’t know when the school might reopen, since the mold remediation process may take up to two years.

The elementary school was infested with mold spores that were blamed for an increase in respiratory ailments, runny noses, coughing and other symptoms, according to an article in today’s Montreal Gazette.

These health effects surfaced after months of exposure to mold spores, experts say.

The school board involved the public health department when it received multiple complaints of minor health problems from adults and children.

Air samples from 29 rooms in the school revealed an unhealthy level of mold spores in each one.

As is so often the case when it comes to mold, a burst water pipe incident in November 2010 may be to blame for the high mold count.

Mold spores are ubiquitous in the environment and can start to settle down and actively grow mold if there is enough water or moisture.

The mold can be hidden or visible and for this school, the spores probably became airborne after the school had some masonry work done.

The students moved to an empty school building in Montreal but have to find different accommodations soon.

Source: Montreal Gazette

Keep indoor air healthy in schools

The 5000 and 6000 Series is a popular
choice for individual classrooms.

Mold is one of the most common indoor air quality issues in schools, but students and staff are also affected by particles and dust, allergens, chemicals and odors – especially in older schools where the ventilation system is simply not enough to provide the required fresh air exchanges.

Electrocorp has designed powerful stand-alone air cleaners for schools and universities that can help keep the air clean and healthy.

AllerAir's 5000 Series and 6000 Series are powerful, portable room air purifiers that can be used in individual classrooms and moved around easily, according to need.

The air cleaners can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including chemicals and gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and allergens. They feature a multistage air filtration system with activated carbon, HEPA and UV (optional).

The easy-to-use air cleaners are designed for around-the-clock operation at minimal cost, with a long filter lifespan and easy maneuverability.

For more information and options, please contact an Electrocorp air quality expert.

Related posts:

• Environmental exposures in schools
• IAQ challenge: Keeping schools healthy
• Students need better air quality in schools

Electrocorp is a division of AllerAir.

Protect children and teachers from poor IAQ in educational facilities

Educational facilities are in need of
improved indoor air quality.

With roughly one fifth of the U.S. population spending their days in educational facilities such as schools, day care and child care settings, universities and the like, experts are warning about the effects poor indoor air quality can have on students and teachers.

Studies have linked indoor air pollution with health risks and problems such as asthma, nausea, fatigue, headaches and other respiratory conditions.

By subjecting the student population as well as staff at educational facilities to poor indoor air quality, the polluted air can affect the health and well-being, concentration, attendance rates and student and staff performance.

Be aware of indoor air pollutants

Just because you can’t see or smell something, it doesn’t mean the air is clean.

In fact, any indoor environment will be polluted with biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold, allergens and dust particles, chemical and gaseous pollutants coming from building materials, paints, cleaning agents, inks, arts and crafts materials and more.

Take simple steps to improve the indoor air quality

1. Reduce chemical pollutants: High-efficiency room air filters with activated carbon provide a quick and simple way to remove gaseous pollutants. Switch to low emission cleaning products and avoid introducing more chemicals into the rooms as much as possible.
   
2. Control humidity: High humidity levels can lead to active mold growth and helps mildew, bacteria and dust mites to thrive. Keeping the humidity under 51 percent with the help of dehumidifier systems and using a room air filter with a medical-grade HEPA or UV germicidal filtration can help keep these types of contaminants under control.
3. Counter carbon-dioxide: A lack of proper ventilation and fresh air supply to students and staff has profound negative effects on their ability to concentrate and retain information. Make sure the ventilation systems are adequate, and that an adequate amount of fresh air is introduced into the different rooms.
4. Reduce allergens and asthmagens: A growing number of children are suffering from asthma and asthma-related school absences are common. High-efficiency air purifiers with HEPA and UV germicidal filtration can capture common asthma triggers such as pet dander (brought in on kids- clothing), roaches, dust mites and mold.

Source: Buildings.com

Choose the best all-in-one solution

AllerAir's 5000 and 6000 Series
remove gases, odors and particles.

AllerAir offers high-efficiency, portable room air purifiers with a powerful activated carbon + HEPA filtration system and optional UV germicidal filtration for the most enhanced filter system in the industry.

With a wide range of models and sizes and even larger, industrial air cleaners for universities and schools offered by AllerAir’s industrial division Electrocorp, AllerAir’s product line can meet any educational facility’s needs and requirements.

Call for more information and options: 1-888-852-8247.

Video: Indoor air problems in schools

The state of Indiana has taken steps to improve the indoor air quality in its schools, after reports found high levels of pollutants that affected students, teachers and other staff members.

Watch the video (after a short commercial):



Indoor air problems in schools include mold, pesticides, carbon dioxide, bacteria, allergens and chemicals.

The problems are often linked to poor air circulation, water damage, old buildings and tight budgets for repairs or improvements.

AllerAir has designed cost-effective, portable air purifiers with activated carbon and HEPA as well as UV (optional) that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

AllerAir's industrial division Electrocorp has also engineered highly efficient air cleaners for schools and universities.

Contact AllerAir for more information and recommendations.

Related posts:

• Back to School means allergy and asthma flareups, experts say
• Toxic cleaning chemicals: Reducing chemical exposures at school
• Air pollution linked to poorer student health, academic performance
    

Air pollution linked to poorer student health, academic performance

"...more and more schools, parents and government officials have contacted us for recommendations on affordable air purifiers to improve school air quality." says Gershon Katz, air quality expert at AllerAir.

 The researchers found that Michigan public schools located in areas with the state's highest industrial air pollution levels had the lowest attendance rates---an indicator of poor health---as well as the highest proportions of students who failed to meet state educational testing standards.

The researchers examined the distribution of all 3,660 public elementary, middle, junior high and high schools in the state and found that 62.5 percent of them were located in places with high levels of air pollution from industrial sources.

Minority students appear to bear the greatest burden, according to a research team led by Paul Mohai of the U-M School of Natural Resources and Environment and Byoung-Suk Kweon of the U-M Institute for Social Research.

The researchers found that while 44.4percent of all white students in the state attend schools located in the top 10 percent of the most polluted locations in the state, 81.5 percent of all African American schoolchildren and 62.1 percent of all Hispanic students attend schools in the most polluted zones.

Children in general are known to be more vulnerable than adults to the effects of pollution. Exposure to environmental pollutants during important times of physiological development can lead to long-lasting health problems, dysfunction and disease, the experts said.

"Our findings underscore the need to expand the concept of environmental justice to include children as a vulnerable population. Moreover, our findings show that children of color are disproportionately at risk," the authors wrote. "There is a need for proactive school policies that will protect children from exposure to unhealthy levels of air pollution and other environmental hazards."

The authors offer four policy recommendations to address the problem:
1) All potential school sites should be thoroughly analyzed, including tests of soil, water and air quality.
2) Policies should be enacted to insist on a minimum distance between sources of pollution and school locations.
3) Environmental mitigation policies should be adopted to reduce children's potential exposure to pollution.
4) Oversight and enforcement at the national, state and local levels needs to ensure better school environments.

Ninety-five percent of the estimated industrial air pollution around schools comes from 12 chemicals: diisocyanates, manganese, sulfuric acid, nickel, chlorine, chromium, trimethylbenzene, hydrochloric acid, molybdenum trioxide, lead, cobalt and glycol ethers.

These pollutants come from a variety of sources, including the motor vehicle, steel and chemical- manufacturing industries, power plants, rubber and plastic products manufacturers, and lumber and wood products manufacturers. The 12 chemicals are suspected of producing a wide variety of health effects, including increased risk of respiratory, cardiovascular, developmental and neurological disorders, as well as cancer.

"What many people don't realize is that airborne pollution, chemicals in particular, also trigger asthma attacks and allergy-like symptoms leading to illness and absenteeism," says Gershon Katz, air quality expert at AllerAir. "That's why more and more schools, parents and government officials have contacted us for recommendations on affordable air purifiers to improve school air quality."

Are you a school official, parent or government buyer? AllerAir is an experienced vendor and service provider for many federal, state, and local government agencies. We are pleased to provide government buyers with a dedicated government solutions team for fast and efficient service.

Parents, we are available to answer any of your indoor air quality questions via  live chat or by phone at 1-888-852-8247.

Report: Toxic Air and American Schools

USA Today’s recently released report, Toxic Air and American Schools, has really hit a nerve with school administrators and parents alike.

It’s understandable; nobody wants to be told that the air quality in the school they are running may be a risk to the health of the kids who are attending. And certainly no parent wants to imagine that their child is breathing carcinogens, while learning.

So many schools are lashing back, claiming that no actual air quality tests were made, that the information in the report was merely based on statistics. Meanwhile, many parents are outraged, demanding action and improved air quality for their children.

The way the USA report works is it ranks each school on a percentile scale comparing it to the other schools in the nation. There are two separate rankings, one for exposure to cancer causing air toxins and one for exposure to non-cancer causing air toxins. USA derived these rankings by using an EPA model to identify the path of pollutants emanating from industrial sources near schools.

The report concludes, “The potential problems that emerged were widespread, insidious, and largely unaddressed.”

Yikes.

We’ve never a published a report like the one released by USA Today, and we don’t necessarily agree with everything that’s in the report, but one thing’s for sure, it’s about time air quality becomes a hot topic.

The mere fact that people are talking about air quality is an important step in the right direction.

If nothing else this report has opened many people’s eyes to the possibility that air quality could be affecting their health—- or the health of their children. There’s lots of information available for those seeking it, and even effective solutions for those that choose them.

For more information on indoor air quality, please visit www.allerair.com, or to speak to an AllerAir IAQ Expert about including air purifiers in your home or local school, call 888.852.8247.