Indoor Air Quality - Tools for Schools Action Kit for Canadian Schools

Chapter 1: Note To School Officials And Others Interested In Indoor Air Quality In Schools

Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but fewer realize that indoor air pollution can also contribute to health effects, such as asthma. Studies by Health Canada, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other agencies indicate that levels of indoor pollutants may be significantly higher than outdoor levels. Since most people spend an estimated 90% of their time indoors, indoor air pollution is a significant concern. Children may be especially susceptible to air pollution.

The promotion of good indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools is particularly important, since poor IAQ can potentially affect the health of students and staff, as well as the educational process and costs. Good IAQ contributes to a favorable learning environment for students, productivity for teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being for all school occupants. These combine to assist a school in its core mission - educating children.

Indoor air quality problems can be caused by a wide range of factors including indoor sources of contaminants such as building materials, furnishings, cleaning agents, pesticides, printing and copying devices, combustion appliances, tobacco products, allergens, fungi, molds, bacteria, viruses, radon, and lead. Tighter buildings combined with reduced ventilation can also reduce IAQ and affect the health and well-being of school occupants.

In addition to contributing to health problems, poor air quality can be costly for schools due to the potential for: expensive investigation and hasty solutions during a major indoor air problem; higher heating and cooling costs; damage to the physical building structure and mechanical equipment; and higher liability. Thus, the proper maintenance of indoor air is more than a "quality" issue, it encompasses safety and stewardship of the investment in students, staff and facilities.

Timely and effective response to IAQ problems will reduce the potential consequences that can affect health costs and the educational process (see Introduction).

This kit provides a process and the tools to help schools prevent, identify, assess, and address the majority of indoor air problems with minimal cost and involvement. This can be accomplished by using trained professionals to perform the limited and well-defined set of basic operations and maintenance activities that are explained in the kit.

It is recommended that implementation of the IAQ Tools for Schools program be started early in the school year.

Origin of the IAQ Action Kit

The IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit was developed at Health Canada in collaboration with the Indoor Air Quality Working Group of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Environmental and Occupational Health (CEOH).

Based on a similar kit developed by the United States Environment Protection Agency (US EPA), this version of the kit has been tailored to Canadian schools. Three consultation workshops, involving approximately 250 stakeholders from across the country, were held to obtain feedback on the Canadian kit. In 2002, the kit was pilot tested in 44 schools across Canada. The results of the pilot study were used to further refine the contents of the kit.