How is the Indoor Air Quality at Your School?

Would you keep a plastic bag holding engine exhausts over your head throughout the workday? How about moldy material in that bag, or cleaning chemicals? Or perhaps a plastic bag with lots of carbon dioxide and too little oxygen? Well, that's basically what you could be doing if your school has poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

As the illustration with the plastic bag suggests, breathing poor air or contaminated air can result in staff and students suffering health effects that range from mildly uncomfortable to dangerously ill.

There are numerous causes of poor IAQ. Some buildings lack adequate ventilation in their design. Sometimes vents are covered or their motors don't work. Chemicals and cleaning supplies may require extra ventilation. Carpets can hold a host of contaminants including mold. Mold is usually a result of high-humidity due to roof leaks, plumbing problems, condensation, etc.

By staff and administration working together, solutions can often be found that are relatively inexpensive. Some problems may be more costly. If you suspect a problem with IAQ at your school, contact your OEA staff representative. The OEA has worked with numerous school settings on this matter and has resources to help you. --->The Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Kit (Kit) shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air problems at little or no cost using straightforward activities and in-house staff.  Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools is co-sponsored by the National PTA, National Education Association, Council for American Private Education, Association of School Business Officials, American Federation of Teachers, and the American Lung Association.