School Environments and Children s Health

Transcription

1 School Environments and Children s Health Patrick N. Breysse, PhD, CIH Director, NCEH/ATSDR Healthy Schools Network June 6, 2016 National Center for Environmental Health Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

2 National Center for Environmental Health Vision Healthy People in Healthy Environments Strategic Priorities Protect children from the health risks of harmful exposures and conditions Reduce asthma morbidity and mortality Ensure safe drinking water

3 Overview Indoor air quality The physical environment Failing infrastructure School Siting Conceptual model

4 Indoor Air Quality

5 Schools and Health Indoor Air Quality People, particularly children, spend between 80-90% of their time indoors Growing recognition that home indoor air quality is an important health risk Particulate matter, allergens, oxides of nitrogen, endotoxin, mold Associated with increased risk for respiratory diseases (e.g., asthma, allergies, and rhinitis) in children and adults

6 Schools and Health Indoor Air Quality Schools represent the second most important indoor environment for children we know much less about the range of indoor air pollutants, their concentrations, and impacts Complex sources Indoor and outdoor

7 Schools and Health Indoor Air Quality and Productivity Occupational studies of health and productivity associated with building environments reinforces the importance of indoor air quality as a source of impaired health and performance The potential for the indoor environment to impact productivity is particularly relevant to schools where concentration and intellectual performance are key to success Teachers and students

8 Schools and Health Indoor Air Quality Studies have implicated a range of potential contaminants of concern Particulate matter Volatile organic compounds Molds, fungi, and dampness Carbon monoxide mercury Allergens - mouse

9 Schools and Health Indoor Air Quality Air Exchange Rates Ventilation can be assessed by measuring the build up of C0 2 Poor ventilation associated with increased error rates Increasing ventilation is associated with better test scores Reduced Reduced respiratory symptoms decreased absences

10 The Physical Environment

11 Schools and Health Physical Environment Temperature Classrooms with temperatures outside the human comfort zone (below 67 F and above 74 F Noise student productivity, efficiency and test scores are significantly lower Noisy fans, open windows, can be significant source of distraction Research has shown that students in noisy buildings fall behind in reading and math

12 Schools and Health Physical Environment Lighting Ample lighting, especially from natural daylight are associated with better test scores Evidence suggests children s melatonin cycles are disrupted when they are deprived of natural light Affects their alertness during school

13 Failing Infrastructure

14 Schools and Health - Aging Infrastructure In 2014, the National Center for Educations Statistics estimated that the average age of the nation s main school buildings was 55 years old The average date of construction for our nation s schools at 1959 American Society of Civil Engineers School Infrastructure - grade D Energy D+; drinking water D ; roads D; transit D; waste water D

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16 The Problem s Problem We don t have national data on school facilities We don t really have a complete picture of the condition of our nation s schools.

17 Schools and Health Safe Water Lead and other contaminants associated with failing water infrastructure Baltimore spends $450,000 a year supplying bottled water to all but six of its 180 schools Portland, Newark, Chicago, Tacoma and other cities have been in the news lately

18 School Siting

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22 Safe Siting In 2011, EPA releases voluntary school siting guidelines (then updates them in 2013) ATSDR is developing and implementing a national initiative to protect children from health risks caused by the location of child care and early learning facilities.

23 A Story Behind ATSDR s Safe Siting Initiative Kiddie Kollege Franklin, NJ Mercury exposure at childcare facility

24 Conceptual Model

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26 Environmental Justice Issue

27 Are the Feds Helping Schools Address IAQ? NIOSH recommendations for schools EPA Indoor Air Quality Action Kit CDC Programs

28 Examples of Current NCEH/ATSDR Activities National Asthma Control Program Strategies for Addressing Asthma within a Coordinated School Health Program School-based health care and asthma management Childhood Lead Prevention Program Lead in drinking fountains ATSDR Day care facility siting criteria

29 Call To Action!

30 Questions? For more information, contact NCEH/ATSDR CDC-INFO ( ) TTY: Follow us on The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.