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INDOOR AIR QUALITY BASICS |
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you know that the air you breath could be making
you sick or causing you discomfort? Indoor air
quality (IAQ) problems are a very real but manage-able
issue that everyone should be concerned about.
Why
is IAQ Important to Your School?
people are aware of the dangers associated with
outdoor air pollution, but few people realize
that indoor air pollution can also be harmful.
So what’s all the fuss about? Indoor air pollutants
can be at levels that are 2-5 times, and sometimes
even 1000 times higher than outdoor levels. And,
considering that most people spend 90% of their
time indoors, indoor air pollution can pose a
serious health risk.
schools is crucial to creating a safe and healthy
learning environment. Schools are particularly
unique because a typical classroom has four times
as many occupants as an office building. Schools
are also havens for a large variety of pollutant
sources.
What
Factors Affect IAQ?
air quality is affected by four basic factors:
pollutant sources; the heating, ventilation and
air-conditioning (HVAC) system; pollutant pathways;
and building occupants.
Sources. Indoor air pollutants
can come from within a building as well as from
outside. Air pollutants can include pesticides,
mold, pollen, dust, radon, furnishings, fungi,
chemicals, cleaning supplies, fibers, bacteria,
animal dander, and gases.
System. The heating, ventilation,
and air-conditioning (HVAC) system includes all
heating, cooling, and ventilating equipment serving
a school.
Pathways. Pollutants can travel
throughout a building via the HVAC system, human
activity, and natural effects such as wind. Air
pressure differences within a building move airborne
pollutants from areas of higher pressure to areas
of lower pressure.
affect individuals differently. People may experience
different symptoms, different degrees of reaction,
or no effects at all.
How
Does IAQ Affect Children?
IAQ can cause serious respiratory problems, especially
in children. Children’s respiratory systems are
still developing, making them more susceptible
to indoor air contaminants. Their higher respiration
rates result in inhalation of more air contaminants.
This makes them more vulnerable to pollutant sources
such as radon, second-hand smoke, and pesticides.
How
Do You Know if There is an IAQ Problem?
people respond differently to indoor air pollutants,
and because symptoms of IAQ problems are similar
to those of the common cold, allergies, fatigue,
or the flu, diagnosing IAQ symptoms can be difficult.
But there are several things to look out for:
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The symptoms are widespread within a classroom or the school, indicating a ventilation problem. |
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The onset is sudden after a change in the building, such as painting or pesticide application. |
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The symptoms disappear when the student or school employees leave the building. |
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Persons with allergies, chemical sensitivities, or asthma have reactions indoors but not outdoors. |
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A health care provider has diagnosed a student or school employee with an IAQ-related illness. |
What
Can You Do to Solve an IAQ Problem?
you suspect there is an IAQ problem in your school,
contact a school official immediately. Encourage
your school to obtain and use the EPA’s Indoor
Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit,
an easy-to-use kit that offers guidance on how
to carry out a practical plan of action at little
or no cost. The Kit includes a flexible step-by-step
informational guide for using the Kit, simple
checklists for all school employees, an IAQ Problem
Solving Wheel, a fact sheet on indoor air pollution
sources and solutions, sample memos to help school
personnel respond to inquiries, and sample policies.
To order a $22 Kit, call the GPO at (202) 512-1800
or fax (202) 512-2250.
