Description
The mission of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. One of the ways the EPA carries out this mission is through its efforts to facilitate healthy indoor environments, including by working to address indoor air quality, or IAQ, in schools. For National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, Learn More Breathe Better® connected with Tracey Mitchell, environmental protection specialist with the EPA, to learn about asthma, indoor air, and the school environment.
How does IAQ impact children with asthma?
Because Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, exposure to indoor allergens and irritants may play a significant role in triggering asthma episodes. Each day, one in five Americans occupies a school building, and the health of the school environment, including in, around, and outside the school building, can affect the well-being and lifelong health of students and educators, especially those with asthma. Studies show that a healthy indoor environment in school will reduce absenteeism, improve test scores, enhance student and staff productivity, and improve the health of all students and staff. The EPA’s website includes information about asthma and IAQ in the home and at school.
What are some of the common asthma triggers found in schools that can affect students who are sensitive to them?
Some of the most common asthma triggers found in school environments are:
- Classroom Pets: Classrooms often adopt animals as classroom pets or science projects. Any warm-blooded animals, including gerbils, birds, cats, dogs, mice, and rats, may trigger asthma. Proteins, which act as allergens in the dander, urine, or saliva of warm-blooded animals, can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma episodes in people sensitive to animal allergens.
- Pests: Cockroaches and other pests, such as rats and mice, are often found in the school setting. Certain proteins that act as allergens in the waste products and saliva of pests can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms in some individuals.
- Molds: Molds can be found almost anywhere: They can grow on virtually any substance if moisture is present. Molds produce tiny reproductive spores that travel through the indoor and outdoor air continually. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they digest available material to survive and grow. Potential health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures include allergic reactions, asthma exacerbations, and other respiratory complaints.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): VOCs are chemicals commonly found in cleaning products, perfumes, paints, and other items in schools. They can be harmful to all people with asthma. Products with EPA’s Safer Choice label help consumers and commercial buyers identify products with safer chemical ingredients without sacrificing quality or performance.
Who plays a role in improving IAQ in the classroom?
Everyone plays a role in improving IAQ. Because IAQ problems can originate anywhere in the school building, the entire staff should be informed about and participate in improving IAQ. Students also can be involved in the process. EPA has many resources, including the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit, which provides technical guidance and straightforward checklists to help school personnel identify, resolve, and prevent IAQ problems. Using an IAQ management plan that includes checklists for the entire building can lower student and staff exposure to asthma triggers and a range of other harmful exposures. The EPA website features more information about IAQ, including about IAQ in schools.
The EPA is a partner in the Breathe Better Network. What are some of the advantages of Network partnership your agency has valued?
As a partner of the Breathe Better Network, EPA values the collaboration and cooperation not only with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Learn More Breathe Better program, but also with a variety of other government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community programs all focused on lung health. Together, we help everyone breathe better.
