 National Association of Counties * Washington, D.C. Vol. 31, No. 5 * March 15, 1999 Previous story | Table of Contents | Next story
Counties Address Air Quality in Schools 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. The EPA has determined that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular concern because most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. Comparative risk studies have consistently ranked indoor air pollution among the top four environmental risks to the public. In schools, 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 all occupants. In addition to ensuring a healthy and productive learning environment, good indoor air quality can save the school’s resources through reduced absenteeism and sick days for students and staff, reduced deterioration; and improved heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, which also reduces the possibility of school closings and temporary relocations. Indoor air problems can be subtle and do not always produce easily recognized effects 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. To assist counties in addressing the issue of indoor air quality in schools, NACo’s Radon/Indoor Air project has prepared training courses for county officials. The first course in the series was held in December 1998. Twenty-five county elected, health and school officials from Los Angeles County, Calif.; Blackhawk County, Iowa; Grand Traverse and Lapeer counties, Mich.; Olmsted, Redwood and St. Louis counties, Minn.; Montgomery County, Pa.; and Powhatan County, Va. were invited to participate. One state association of counties, the Association of County Commissioners Georgia, also sent a representative to the two-day training held in Washington, D.C. Working as county teams, the elected, health and school officials learned of the sources and remedies associated with the serious health threats posed by poor indoor air quality. The training participants also received a short course in building ventilation basics and during several brain-storming sessions were given the opportunity to share their professional perspectives on what each realistically could and could not do to help the others in bettering the air quality in their local schools. "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. Children, particularly those with asthma, are especially susceptible to indoor air pollution, and because children spend the majority of their day in a school building, air quality in schools is of particular concern," said Cheryl Clark, Lapeer County (Mich.) commissioner, training participant and chair of NACo’s Indoor Air Advisory Committee. The highlight of the training was a field trip to an area elementary school. There, the teams practiced identifying and diagnosing common school indoor air problems through the hands-on use of EPA’s Tools for Schools Action Kit. The Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit is a nationally renowned voluntary program developed by EPA. The easy-to-use kit shows schools how to carry out a practical plan to improve indoor air quality at little or no cost, using in-house staff. The Tools for Schools Action Kit (item # 055-000-00503-6) is available from the Superintendent of Documents, P.O Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250. Telephone orders can be placed at 202/512-1800. The cost is $22. County officials interested in outreach and educational strategies as well as free materials to address their citizen’s indoor air quality concerns should call NACo’s Indoor Air Quality Programs at either 202/942-4261 (Lou Witt) or 202/942-4292 (Pam Zarbatany). (County Services News was written by Lou Witt, senior project manager.) |
