Behind closed Doors: An Inside Look at Indoor Air Pollution
By Geoffrey Castro & Jane Dale Owen
The health threats posed by outdoor air pollution are now known by almost everybody. But so far there is considerably less awareness of the health risks presented by indoor air pollution. Yet indoor air can be just as dangerous as our polluted outdoor air-in some aspects more so. Studies on human exposure to air pollution conducted by the EPA have shown that indoor air pollutant levels may be 2-5 times, in some instances as much as 100 times, higher than outdoor pollution levels. This raises an important issue, because it is estimated that people spend roughly 90% of their time indoors. In fact, the issue of indoor air pollution is so severe that the EPA and its Science Advisory Board have declared indoor air pollution as one of the four most serious environmental risks to the public.
Bad indoor air quality has led to a common term known as Sick Building Syndrome. It has been so widespread in schools throughout the country, that it has conjured up the term "Sick School Syndrome." A school is deemed sick when the occupants experience health problems that seem to be building related upon entering, and which disappear as soon as they leave.
"Ventilating Is Fundamental"
Sick School Syndrome is most frequently ascribed to poor indoor air quality. Spokeswoman Kristy Miller with the Indoor Environments Division of the EPA states, "the most common problem is that buildings do not have enough ventilation." She also says "without ventilation too much moisture leads to mold and bacteria. Also, using chemicals or paints and not ventilating properly can make people sick. Ventilating," she says, "is fundamental." Sick School Syndrome can affect both new and older buildings. Newer buildings are affected by ventilation, whereas older buildings may have ventilation systems that have fallen into disrepair. Parked school buses with engines idling near an outside air vent may also be a contributing factor.
In this era of energy concerns, buildings are sealed more tightly then they were 50 years ago, contributing to indoor air quality problems. Pesticides, synthetic building materials, heating, air conditioning equipment, cleaning processes, vehicle emissions, and furnishings are further contributing sources of indoor chemical pollution.
Those among us who are most adversely impacted by air pollution, both in and out of doors, are our children. Children breathe a greater volume of air relative to their body weight than adults. For this reason alone, air quality in schools should be of high concern. Nearly 56 million people (20% of the population) are either in elementary or secondary schools throughout the nation on a daily basis. According to the National Center for Education Statistics of the Department if Education, one of every five public schools had indoor air quality rated as unsatisfactory.
Symptoms that are commonly attributed to indoor air quality problems include headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing sneezing, nausea, or eye, nose, and skin irritation. Long-term health effects include asthma. Those who are most susceptible to indoor air pollution are those who have asthma, suppressed immune systems, or respiratory diseases.
Schoolhouse S.S.S. Spreading
Sick school syndrome has been prevalent in many schools throughout the Houston area, including Dayton High School in Liberty County, Hirsch Elementary in the Spring District, and George Washington Carver Elementary in Baytown. In reaction to complaints of headaches and nausea by a number of pupils in the Arlyne S. Weber Elementary School, The Clear Creek School District completely demolished the school building in March of 1997. Parents feared that fumes from contaminants were related to the Brio EPA designated superfund site located just 200 yards away. Located 20 miles southeast of Houston, the 58 acre Brio site holds more than a half million cubic yards of contaminated soil.
In more recent news two schools in the Katy district have reported indoor air quality problems. Students at both Nottingham Country Elementary and West Memorial Elementary have experienced such symptoms as nosebleeds, rashes, headaches, and upper- respiratory problems. Many of these problems were attributed to mold later found on campus. Several parents claimed that their children’s symptoms disappeared over the summer, but feared they might return after returning to school.
Air Quality Affects Learning
It is also important to note the effect that the quality of our indoor air can have on learning and academic performance. One EPA study reports that a person’s ability to perform mental tasks such as concentration, calculation, and memory is affected by poor ventilation. The U.S. Department of Education has conducted research that reports that children who attended schools that are in poor condition score 11% lower on standardized tests than those who attend schools in good condition. Other reports show that asthma is 30-60% more prevalent in homes and schools with evidence of mold, dampness, or mildew.
High carbon dioxide rates are also a consequence of poor ventilation that is a major contributor to poor indoor air quality. According to the EPA, carbon dioxide is generated by exhalation, which in turn is trapped inside the building. The EPA states that students’ performances on tests were lower in classrooms that had high levels of carbon dioxide. The National Education Association reports that overcrowding is also an integral part of indoor air quality problems in buildings with poor ventilation. Their reports claim that compared to office buildings, schools have four times as many occupants per square foot. They also claim that most school ventilation systems were not constructed to accommodate the rise in school populations.
If indoor air quality problems are not spotted early they may lead to very costly repairs. On average, most public school buildings are 40 years old. Many buildings begin to deteriorate after 40 years if improperly maintained. For this reason the EPA has developed a program called Tools for Schools. This program is designed for preventative maintenance that provides low cost solutions to prevent high costs in future repairs of school buildings. One illustrative analytical project in the District of Columbia showed that a 22-year period of allocating $364 annually on preventative maintenance could have prevented $1.6 million in repairs and remediation. (The annual estimated loss is $10 - 20 billion in relation to Sick School Syndrome and Indoor air Quality.)
Be Alert to Clues
Schools should be taking greater preventative measures to ensure the safety and well being of child occupants. Every child is entitled to a healthy, hazard-free learning environment. If your child is experiencing any symptoms or sickness that you think may be related to the child’s school, keep a written record of the problems, and the extent to which they appear to be school related.
Some simple clues for identifying indoor air quality problems are:
- The symptoms are widespread within a class or within a school
- Symptoms disappear when the students or staff leave the school building for the day
- The onset is sudden after some change at the school, such as painting or pesticide application
- Persons with allergies, asthma, or chemical sensitivities have reactions indoors but not outdoors
- A doctor has diagnosed a student or staff member as having an indoor air related illness. (Source: American Lung Association)
For more information please visit Tools for Schools on the EPA website.
