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Indoor Air Quality in Schools

According to U.S. EPA, 20 percent of the U.S. population spend their days in elementary and secondary schools. Studies show that one-half of our nation's 115,000 schools have problems linked to indoor air quality. Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants. If students and teachers aren't healthy and comfortable, learning and productivity suffers, which in turn affects performance and achievement.

See recent report by WTHR-TV about indoor air quality in Indiana schools. The report notes that a required state advisory panel on school indoor air quality hasn't met for six years, and the state hasn't developed rules that were due by July 2010. The rule has been drafted, but not yet finalized. See information at right.

Schools can improve the indoor environment by systematically and aggressively addressing these technical solutions:
  • Ensuring Quality Inspection, Operation, and Maintenance of the School's Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning System
  • Active, Aggressive Control of Moisture and Mold
  • Strong Integrated Pest Management
  • Effective, Consistent Cleaning & Maintenance Activities
  • Smart, Low-Emitting, Low-Toxicity Materials Selection
  • Aggressive Source Control

Problems at Your School?

What should you do if your school or your child's school has a problem with indoor air quality?

1. Learn about U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality "Tools for Schools" program at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/ At this link you can learn about indoor air quality, health effects, and how student performance is affected.   

2. Talk to the school's principal. Describe the problem, giving dates and times of day, where possible. Ask if the school maintenance staff can investigate the problem. Volunteer to help the school coordinate an indoor air quality program. Visit EPA's website to learn how parents can work productively with schools to improve indoor air.

3. If the principal will not help, talk to the superintendent or facilities director. Ask a school board member to help if you are having trouble getting their attention.

4. If you do not get a response, contact the Indiana State Department of Health (317-351-7190), and ask them to conduct an inspection. If your school is in Marion County, you can contact the Marion County Public Health Department (317-221-2266).

According to IC 20-10.1-33, the Indiana State Department of Health is required to inspect schools for indoor air quality problems when it receives a complaint.  As a result of the inspection, ISDH must produce a report and provide it to:

  • the person who complained about the quality of air in the school;
  • the school's principal;
  • the superintendent of the school district, if the school is part of a school district;
  • the Indiana state board of education, if the school is a public school or an accredited nonpublic school; and
  • the appropriate local or county board of health.

ISDH is also required to assist the school in developing a reasonable plan to improve air quality conditions found in the inspection.

See Indiana's Law on Indoor Air Quality in Schools at IC 20-10.1-33-3 for more details on the law.

IKE has gathered many school inspection reports from ISDH.  You can find reports from Central Indiana on the WTHR website or contact IKE and we will let you know if we have a report about your school.

 

Proposed Rule

 

On October 12, 2010, the Indiana State Department of Health held a public hearing on a proposed rule which would establish an indoor air quality (IAQ) inspection, evaluation, and parent and employee notification program to assist schools and state agencies in improving IAQ. You can view the proposed rule (410 IAC 33) at http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/20100915-IR-410090682PRA.xml.html,


The rule would establish best practices and necessary minimum standards for IAQ in schools and state agencies, regulate items that affect the IAQ, specify when the ISDH will inspect for IAQ, and establish requirements for parent or employee, or both, notification of IAQ evaluation findings.


Copies of these rules are now on file at the Office of Legal Affairs, Indiana State Department of Health,

2 North Meridian Street and Legislative Services Agency, Indiana Government Center North, 100 North Senate Avenue , Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection. Please feel free to pass on the word.  

Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition  

The Indiana Joint Asthma Coalition (InJAC) is a voluntary network of people and organizations who work to reduce the burden of asthma on people living in Indiana. Volunteers can include people from federal, state, and local governmental agencies, professional organizations, managed care plans, hospitals, schools, environmental groups, and other community-based organizations and individuals concerned with the prevention and control of asthma in Indiana.

To find out more about InJAC, please visit their website at http://www.injac.org/

National Education Associations Health Information Network

National Education Associations Health Information Network (NEA HIN) has

Indoor Air Quality  (IAQ) Tools for Schools lesson plans available at

http://www.neahin.org/health-safety/environmental/iaq-tfs-lessson-plans-k-12.html
 
 

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