Raising Awareness
What is Indoor Air Quality and why does it matter in schools?
Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of the air inside buildings, such as homes, offices, schools, and other structures. The presence of pollutants and other substances in the air can have negative effects on human health and comfort.
Poor IAQ can result from a variety of factors, including inadequate ventilation, the use of certain building materials, and the presence of indoor pollutants such as smoke, mold, and chemicals. These pollutants can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory issues, headaches, fatigue, allergic reactions, and eye irritation.
Maintaining good IAQ involves taking steps to reduce or eliminate indoor pollutants, ensuring adequate ventilation, and using appropriate air filtration and cleaning systems. Regular maintenance of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is also important for ensuring good indoor air quality.
IAQ in schools is particularly important because children spend a significant amount of time in classrooms, often up to eight hours per day. Poor indoor air quality in schools can have negative effects on students' health, comfort, and ability to learn. The health problems identified above can lead to absenteeism and lower academic performance.
Additionally, poor indoor air quality can affect the cognitive function of students, leading to decreased concentration, memory, and problem-solving skills. This can ultimately affect academic achievement and long-term educational outcomes. Therefore, it is important to ensure that schools have good indoor air quality to provide a safe and healthy environment for students to learn and grow.
Things You Can Do To Raise Awareness
If you believe that IAQ in schools is an important matter, you can use the following ideas to raise awareness of the issue.
Educate others - Share information about IAQ in schools with family members, other parents, community members, your local school board, and anyone else you think might care about this issue.
Share resources - Provide people with information such as how to measure IAQ, how to improve IAQ, and proper ventilation.
Engage in advocacy - Work with schools, school boards, local and national organizations, and governments to advocate for policies that improve and monitor IAQ in schools.
Participate in campaigns - Join campaigns that raise awareness about indoor air quality issues, such as National Clean Air Month or Clean Air Day.
Use social media - Share information and resources on social media.