Maintaining healthy indoor environments in NH’s public schools
By Denise Brewitt
Published: Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Furniture, supplies and books block ventilation units. Curtains and other fabrics go unwashed. Throw rugs and pillows serve as a breeding ground for dust mites and mold.
Scenarios such as this are frequently found in public school classrooms across New Hampshire, and only exacerbate what’s become a growing problem here in the Granite State and across the country: poor indoor air quality.
Here in New Hampshire, there are more than 470 public school buildings that serve more than 200,000 children. Many of these buildings are old and/or poorly maintained, exposing students to a variety of hazards including dust, mold and toxic chemicals - all of which can contribute to health problems, such as asthma and allergies.
Allergens in the school - such as pollen, dust mites, mold spores, chalk dust and animal dander from class pets or pet hair on student’s clothing - can cause severe allergic or asthmatic reactions. A recent report from the New England Asthma Regional Council suggested that childhood asthma rates in New Hampshire are among the highest in the nation. In addition, a recent survey conducted by The National Association of School Nurses found that asthma is more disruptive of school routines than any other chronic condition, with more than a third of nurses having to respond to an acute asthma episode at least 11 times in the last school year.
At present, there are few regulations or policies that specifically address environmental quality in New Hampshire public schools. However, many schools have expressed the desire to improve indoor air quality. At the same time, there’s been a groundswell of support from state organizations and legislatures to address the causes of substances that contribute to environmental health problems in schools.
In July, Gov. John Lynch signed a bill that established a commission to study indoor air quality issues in New Hampshire’s public schools. The new commission will study air quality issues in public school buildings, and the feasibility of implementing air quality standards and performing regular air quality inspections in these buildings. The commission will also investigate and make recommendations regarding cost-effective, alternative initiatives to address air quality issues.
New Hampshire groups such as Healthy Schools, Healthy Children, Healthy Minds are also advocating for better indoor air quality in schools. The group is a partnership of several state organizations: the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions, the New Hampshire Asthma Control Program, the New Hampshire Department of Education, Breathe New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Jordan Institute/NHPHPS, and the New Hampshire Local Government Center.
Although there are many factors that can play a role in both asthma prevalence and asthma exacerbations, it’s well-established that exposures to allergens and respiratory irritants in indoor environments can be key contributors.
Many children spend one-third or more of each weekday inside school buildings, and it has been shown that in addition to concerns over asthma and respiratory health, poor environmental conditions in schools can inhibit learning, lower staff productivity and pose other health and safety risks.
Healthy Schools, Healthy Children, Healthy Minds has stressed to school administrators and educators that a proactive approach to managing school air quality will not only have a significant positive impact on a child’s health and learning ability, but will save time and money by minimizing absenteeism, crisis intervention, breakdowns, energy use and liability.
<i>Denise Brewitt is the Executive Director of the Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions. For more information on the Council, visit www.ccachc.org.</i>