Healthy Schools Provide Clean Indoor Air Quality for Students & Faculty

Last week, National Healthy Schools Day was recognized and brought national attention to the indoor environment of the nation’s schools. The day of recognition began in 2002 and is coordinated by the Healthy Schools Network in partnership with other groups and organizations.

A crucial component to a healthy school is the indoor air quality (IAQ) that students, teachers and the rest of the faculty breathe. In recognition of this fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a wide range of resources to help schools improve their IAQ with their Tools for Schools Action Kit. In it, EPA states, “Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can impact their health, but indoor air pollution can also have significant harmful effects. EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants maybe two to five times—and occasionally more than 100 times—higher than outdoor levels. EPA and its Science Advisory Board consistently rank indoor air pollution among the top five environmental health risks to the public.”

There are many environmental pollutants that can cause issues in a school and a common one is mold. Problems can even be caused by mechanical issues such as poor ventilation, contaminated HVAC ducts or improper building operations. All of these can directly impact a student’s ability to learn and even cause an increase in absenteeism.

“In Massachusetts and across New England, EnviroVantage provides schools with services to ensure their students can focus on learning,” said Daniel Greenblatt, President of EnviroTech “Our specialists have extensive experience in providing schools with mold remediation services, mechanical hygiene inspections and duct cleaning services. We understand the unique needs of school settings and how the HVAC system and sources of IAQ pollutants, such as mold, can impact the learning environment.”