In recent times, indoor air quality in schools has received great attention, as children spend a significant proportion of their indoor time in school. The combined impact of physical, biological, and chemical influences on indoor air quality in schools depends on the level of environmental ventilation.
And why does indoor air matter?
Many people are aware that their health can be impacted through outdoor air pollution, whereas health effects related to indoor air quality are often overlooked. Studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate that indoor levels of pollutants can be five times higher than outdoor levels. In addition, most of us spend about 90% of our time indoors with an inadequate circulation of air.
Comparative risk studies undertaken by the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) have consistently ranked indoor air pollution amongst the five major environmental risks to public health. Good IAQ is an integral component of a safe indoor environment and can help schools achieve their primary objective of educating children.
Important Fact related to indoor air pollution.
UNICEF cites evidence to indicate that young lungs are particularly vulnerable to air pollution; childhood exposure can lead to chronic respiratory problems such as asthma and lung cancer. As a result, guidance was provided to schools to raise awareness of the risks and to suggest ways of coping with the issue.
“Protecting children from air pollution requires actions to reduce air pollution, reduce children’s exposure to it, and better monitor it.”
-UNICEF, Clear the air for children: The impact of air pollution on children, 2016.
Major market challenges
Exceeding CO2 levels in classrooms
Research indicates that most classrooms rapidly surpass the allowed CO2 concentration limit (1000ppm) causing long-lasting fatigue, concentration problems, headache, nausea, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, dizziness, nausea, and inflammation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin leading to reduced results.
Table showing Carbon dioxide levels and the potential health problems.
Need for indoor air monitoring at Schools?
Because children are most vulnerable to pollution from the environment. In education, ensuring safe air quality is crucial.
Secure the wellbeing of children and staff
Children's bodies and lungs are still developing, so school IAQ monitoring is necessary to ensure that students, staff, and teachers have an atmosphere that keeps them safe and helps them succeed.
Long-term exposure to high concentrations of air pollution can cause asthma. Almost one in 13 school-aged children has asthma, which is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness.
Boosting cognitive efficiency for teachers and students
Research shows that the cognitive levels of an individual could even double in a cleaner, properly ventilated indoor environment. Scientists have also discovered recently that carbon dioxide levels in classrooms may have adverse effects on the body.
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) adversely affects the performance of children at school. High levels of CO2 have been shown to reduce cognitive output by about 20%.
Solutions
Good air quality indoors ensures safe growth, encourages concentration and learning, and decreases absences, enabling the core educational mission of schools.
To make the invisible visible
With Aura-CO2 indoor air quality station, eLichens enables you to monitor CO2, Temperature, Relative Humidity, Pressure, that have the greatest effect on the health of children and the staff.
Secure a stable indoor atmosphere for learning to progress
Ensure stable air quality for the physical development and concentration of children in school, by controlling C02 levels, concentration, and cognitive output with clean and fresh air enhanced.
Secure access to information
Aura-CO2 comes with a dedicated dashboard and a mobile application to help ensure that students & staff remain aware of the air quality activity framework, where users can reliably access data from anywhere via real-time air quality display options, accessible through IOS and Android devices apps.
Key Learnings
In schools, IAQ monitoring is important to ensure that students, staff, and teachers have an atmosphere that keeps them healthy and helps them succeed.
The indoor environment has a significant impact on long-term well-being, it also has an impact on how we feel and function. When children breathe healthier air, they learn and perform better.
Air quality monitors will increase energy efficiency by giving you data that helps you to use ventilation just when you need it.
if you want more information about our indoors air quality stations or if you’re interested about providing Aura-CO2 for your school, offices or home, feel free to contact us.
