Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Maryann Suero, PhDUS Environmental Protection Agency

suero.maryann@epa.gov312-886-9077

Part 1: Issues in School Environmental Health

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Objectives: To

• Understand impacts of environmental exposures on productivity, learning

• Understand major environmental exposures in schools

Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

What’s the difference?Toxicity Exposure

How bad?How much?

RISK

TIMING

Lifestage3

Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Health Gains from Improved IAQ

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Increased Outside Air

Source Control

Moisture Control

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Proactive Maintenance in SchoolsSchools without a major maintenance backlog

- Higher average daily attendance, 4 - 5 per 1,000 - Lower annual dropout rate, 10 - 13 per 1,000

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Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Major Issues in Schools

• Asbestos• Asthma triggers• Bus / Vehicle Idling• Carbon Monoxide• Chemical Management• Drinking Water• Energy Efficiency• Indoor Air Quality /

Ventilation• Lead

• Mercury• Mold / Moisture

Control• PCBs in Caulk & Light

Ballasts• Pesticides & Pest

Management• Radon• UV Radiation• Waste Reduction

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Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Lead Poisoning

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Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

(Data from Illinois - 2010)

Percentage of Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels (over 10 ug/dL) by Race

Represents about 3,500 children

Another 38,000 children above 5 ug/dL!

AfricanAmerican

Asian White Hispanic

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Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Lifelong Health Effects of Lead

• Damage to the brain and nervous system

• Behavior and learning problems (such as)– Hyperactivity– Poor impulse control– Violence – Lower IQ

• Delayed growth

• Other problems – Hearing – Headaches

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Renovate Right!• WHO: Contractors performing activities that disturb

lead-based paint

• WHAT: Renovation, Repair, Painting projects

• WHERE: Child-occupied facilities (e.g. homes, child care facilities, and schools) built before 1978

• HOW: Must be certified and must Notify and Follow Specific Work Practices to prevent lead contamination including– Contain the work area– Minimize dust– Clean up thoroughly

http://www.epa.gov/oppt/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf

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Asthma

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Childhood Asthma in the US

1980 1990 2000 20100

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4

6

8

10

12

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16

18

AllWhiteBlackHispanic

Year

Perc

ent

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• We really don’t know yet• Lots of theories• Some genetic component• ETS exposure in very small children

What Causes Asthma?

What Causes Asthma Attacks?Poor medical controlPoor environmental control

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Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Common Asthma Triggers

• Allergic

– Dust mites– Molds– Pollen– Animal dander– Pests

• Non-Allergic

– Tobacco smoke– Pesticides– Wood /coal smoke– Ozone– Particulate matter

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Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Important to Control Asthma Triggers

• Room by Room

• Individual by individual

Not everyone has the same

environmental asthma triggers

Control the most common asthma triggers in your school

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Reduce Asthma Triggers• Vent sources of particles and humidity

(kept ideally between 30-50%)

• Use finishes / furnishings–Easy to clean–Don’t harbor pests

• Use IPM (more to come!)

Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Key to Mold Control is Moisture Control• Mold can’t be eliminated from indoors…will always be

spores

• Don’t need to test for mold– If you see it– If you smell it– You’ve got it – You need to get rid of it

• Not just a nuisance– Health effects – Structural damage– $$$$$$$$

• Dry up moisture within 48 hours17

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Pests / Pesticides

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Pests / PesticidesCan Trigger Asthma Attacks

or Cause Other Health Effects

• Pests

– Dust mites

– Cockroach allergen

– Rodent urine

• Pesticides

– Carriers

– Fragrances

– Active ingredients

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Potential health effects of pesticides depend on the type of pesticide

• Some may affect the nervous system

• Others may irritate the skin or eyes

• Some pesticides may be carcinogens

• Others may affect the hormone or endocrine system in the body

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To Reduce Pests and Pesticide UseIntegrated Pest Management

• Look for them

• Dry them out

• Starve them out

• Keep them out

• Least amount of least toxic pesticides, when needed

In Illinois, the key component of IPM people remember is notification

IPM is MORE than notification

It’s about behaviors and actions that prevent pests

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Carbon Monoxide (CO) – A Silent Killer Product of Incomplete Combustion

• From appliances that use fuels e.g.– Stoves– Furnaces– Gas heaters– Cars

• Health Effects– Flu-like symptoms, headaches, nausea…– Claims several hundred lives each year in the US

• Good ventilation and appliance condition key to preventing hazardous levels of carbon monoxide

• Impossible to see or smell, CO detector or alarm is the only way to determine exposure

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Overview of Radon

• Naturally occurring radioactive gas

• Ubiquitous in nature

• Undetectable with 5 senses

• Can have high concentrations indoors

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Why we Care about Radon

• #1 Cause of Lung Cancer for Non-Smokers• #2 Cause of Lung Cancer in the US• 21,000 Lung Cancer Deaths/Year in US • Cause of more than half US Radiation

Exposure

• Radon risk ~8X greater for smokers

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EPA Action Levels

• Action Level (4 pCi/L)

• Consider Action (2-4 pCi/L)

• Greatest exposure especially in rooms below grade

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Zone 1 Highest Potential (greater than 4 pCi/L)

             

Zone 2Moderate Potential (from 2 to 4 pCi/L)

             

Zone 3Low Potential (less than 2 pCi/L)

Illinois Radon Potential

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New IL Law Requires Radon Testing in Day Care Centers

• Must test as part of the initial application or license renewal process

• More at http://www.radon.illinois.gov/

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School Radon Screening ProgramIllinois School Code allows school district

employees to complete an online training course approved by IEMA in order to perform screening measurements in their district school buildings

After successfully completing the Radon Measurement course, employee receives certification

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• Household products contain mercury

• Replace with non-mercury alternatives when feasible, especially THERMOMETERS

• If you have mercury-containing products, know how to clean up spill properly– No vacuum– No broom– No drains– Get help if larger amount than what’s in 1 fever thermometer

Mercury

Mercury

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Sensible Steps to Improving Chemical Management in Schools

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Case 1• HS custodian found students mixing chemicals in a

bottle• Bottle exploded, releasing gas• Custodian became ill, vomited• 12 students / 3 school staff treated for respiratory

problems• 1,640 persons evacuated for 5 hours while

hazardous materials team cleaned and ventilated the school

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Case 2• Custodian entered a MS science storage

area, became unconscious

• Someone had spilled a solution of 37% formaldehyde in room and failed to tell anyone

• Fortunately the custodian was rescued

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Case 3• Student took ~ ½ cup mercury from HS science

lab, sold some to friends

• Contaminated classrooms, gymnasium, cafeteria

• Contamination went beyond school

• HS was closed for 35 days

• Cleanup costs were about $1,500,000

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Where Do You Find Chemicals?

• Maintenance Areas• Custodial Storage• Lawn care sheds• Vocational Shops• Science Laboratories• Art Classrooms• Offices• Health unit

Sensible Steps to Healthier School Environments

Coming Up

Approaches, Solutions and Resources for School Environmental Health

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