As students and teachers begin the 2023-24 school year, it’s a good time for educators to assess and improve the indoor environment. The health of a school's environment can affect the attendance, concentration, performance and health of both students and educators. Learn more about how to create and maintain healthy learning environments and stay up to date on EPA's latest information regarding school environments and children's health.
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Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools
School-aged children spend a great deal of time inside school buildings. Poor indoor air quality can have a significant and harmful impact on health.
Find resources and learn more about the impact of IAQ on student performance and take action in your community to improve IAQ in schools.
Reducing Near-Road Pollution Exposure at Schools
People who live, work or attend school near major roadways appear to have more health problems associated with air pollution. Children, older adults, people with preexisting cardiopulmonary disease, and people of low socioeconomic status are among those at higher risk for health impacts from air pollution near roadways.
These risks include:
- Higher rates of asthma onset and aggravation;
- Cardiovascular disease;
- Impaired lung development in children;
- Pre-term and low-birthweight infants;
- Childhood leukemia; and
- Premature death.
EPA has developed best practices in English and Spanish for schools to reduce traffic-related pollution exposure:
Best Practices for Reducing Near-Road Pollution Exposure at Schools
