What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?

• Chemical, biological pollutants in the air

• Temperature, humidity

• A good IAQ Management Plan controls indoor air pollutants, brings in adequate outside air and maintains comfortable temperature and humidity levels.

So how does Tools for Schools fit in?

• Tools for Schools is a VOLUNTARY program, a low cost-no cost tool to help schools improve their IAQ

• Organizes cleaning, maintenance activities that a school is (or should be) already doing

• TfS is not intended to be a crisis management tool

• It’s free, effective (800) 438-4318

History of Tools for Schools

• Late 1980’s – extent of problem with IAQ in schools realized

• 1995 – Tools for Schools kit developed

• Currently – ~50% of schools use either Tools for Schools or an IAQ plan that meets EPA guidelines.

Tools for Schools – 5 steps

1 Form IAQ team, appoint IAQ coordinator

2 Distribute checklists, questionnaires

3 Conduct walk through of school

4 Prioritize repairs – what gets fixed now, what can wait

5 Develop IAQ management plan

Why is IAQ in Schools important?

• We spend 80-90% of our lives indoors• 55 million Americans spend their days in

schools• There are no laws, no indoor air standards

that protect students, staff from poor IAQ• Indoor levels of air pollution can be 2-5

times (even up to 100 times) more polluted than outside air. The reasons……

Radon• Occurs naturally

• EPA Estimate – 23,000 lung cancer deaths per year

• Test kits – (800) 557-2366, or for a few free kits, (702) 798-2430

• If over 4 pC/liter, consider remediation

• Radon caves in Montana!

Carbon Monoxide (CO)• 500 deaths each year CO poisoning

• A byproduct from fuel combustion

• What you can do: annual appliance checks, don’t use fuel burning things indoors (hibachis, gas powered generators, etc.)

• Buy a CO detector

Volatile Organic Compounds(VOC’s)

• Can be built into a school (carpets, paints, cabinets etc.)

• Can be intentionally introduced (air fresheners, scented candles, perfumes, after shaves)

• VOC’s can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate respiratory problems

• Formaldehyde – a probable carcinogen?

Indoor Pollution Sources Copy machines, faxes give off ozone, particulates• Pesticides • Cleaning products• Perfumes, candles, room fresheners• Dirty, malfunctioning A/C, swamp coolers• Mold – 300% increase in lawsuits in past 5 years

Add all these pollutants to a poorly ventilated, insulated box

Why should schools be concerned about poor IAQ?

The Asthma Epidemic

• Asthma rates have doubled since 1980

• 1 in 13 school children has asthma

• 10-13 million school days missed each year

• Tools for Schools helps identify, remove common asthma triggers from classrooms

More reasons that schools should be concerned about poor IAQ

• Health, morale of staff• Poor IAQ, high CO2 = lower performance• Liability issues• Loss of funding when students are absent

• You can’t teach kids that are medicated or absent

What are challenges for schools?

• Funding

• Test scores, student safety, discipline, etc.

• Why draw attention to an IAQ problem?

(if we ignore the problem, no one will notice)

How can Tools for Schools address these concerns?

• Increased attendance = more funding

• Improved IAQ, lower CO2 levels = better learning environment (www.epa.gov/iaq)

• Don’t think of it as drawing attention to a problem, think of it as being proactive

Prioritize your needs into….

• What can be done now to improve IAQ? Simple, quick fixes

• What can we do soon? Low cost fixes that can be done with existing budget/staff

• What can we do when we have more $? Have an inventory of what the IAQ needs of the school are

For new school construction….

• IAQ Design Tools for Schools www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign

For a comprehensive healthy schools approach:

• Healthy Seat www.epa.gov/schools/healthyseat

Who can help schools get started?

• The EPA – Regional offices, symposiums (www.epa.gov/iaq)

• Contractors working through the EPA• American Lung Association state offices• State Health Departments• State Energy offices or Energy Performance

Contractors (www.escperform.org)• Ron Schiller (303) 312-6017

To get more information or materials on indoor air in schools, contact

• Ron Schiller (303) 312-6017

• EPA Publications Warehouse (800) 490-9198

“I think it’s interesting that cologne rhymes with alone”

Demetri Martin