Asthma, IAQ, and Your School
Poor indoor air quality affects the ability of teachers to teach and children to learn.
What is the impact of poor indoor air quality on learning?
- Poor classroom ventilation causes a buildup of indoor pollutants that can cause headaches, drowsiness and inability to concentrate.
- Classroom temperature, humidity and ventilation have a direct impact on speed of performance and learning.
- Studies show that temperature and humidity can degrade teachers’ ability to teach and their morale.
- A UCLA study demonstrated a different between student achievement in poorly maintained buildings and those in better facilities - as much as 17 percentage points.
- Teachers and children with asthma and allergies may be on medication, have disrupted sleep, and have less energy to participate in school activities.
What are the impacts of improved indoor air quality on learning?
- Teaching and learning are improved in a healthier environment. With increased comfort, the ability to concentrate improves and school performance is enhanced.
- When IAQ improves, there are decreases in asthma and allergy symptoms, respiratory and sinus infections, and visits to the school nurse.
- Increased school revenue and learning due to increased attendance. There was an estimated loss of $40.8 million to California schools from preventable student absences due to asthma in 2001 alone, not including lost teacher workdays and productivity.
- Data from the U.S. EPS’s 2002 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Practices in School Survey indicates that schools with an IAQ management program supported by school administration and implemented by an IAQ Coordinator may expect to realize improvements in workplace satisfaction, decreased asthma episodes, increased attendance, and other measures of school performance.