William H. Farquhar Middle School, Olney, MD. Photo credit: Patrick Ross
School Health Research Library
We have curated a library of peer-reviewed scientific studies from around the world published since 2016, focusing on the school built environment and occupant health and performance. This research builds on the 2017 Schools for Health: Foundations for Student Success report released by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health that synthesizes foundational research about school indoor environmental quality impacts on students and staff.
To help translate this research into action in schools, we have compiled School Health Research Highlights to help school staff and leaders access key findings and actionable strategies on priority topics.
Displaying 101 - 110 of 680 | Export entire research library
Risk Assessment for Radon Exposure in Various Indoor Environments
Chen, Jing
Radon surveys in Canada show home radon levels are ~3× higher than in schools. With Canadians spending most time at home, 90% of radon-related lung cancer risk stems from residential exposure, highlighting the need for home mitigation strategies.
Keywords: None listed by authors
Survey of radon testing and mitigation by Wisconsin residents, landlords, and school districts
Denu, Ryan
Surveys of Wisconsin homeowners, landlords, and school districts found low radon testing and mitigation rates. Only 35% of schools had tested, and many did not mitigate due to cost. Results underscore the need for improved policies and funding.
Keywords: None listed by authors
Risk Assessment and Implications of Schoolchildren Exposure to Classroom Heavy Metals Particles in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Alghamdi, Mansour A
Air conditioner filter dust from Jeddah schools showed high heavy metal contamination, especially in urban areas. Cd, Pb, and Co posed the highest risks. Ingestion was the primary exposure route, supporting stronger IAQ controls and filtration.
Keywords: Classrooms air conditioner filter particles, Heavy metals, Contamination level, Indoor air quality , Health, Risk
A virtual speaker in noisy classroom conditions: supporting or disrupting children's listening comprehension?
Nirme, J.
Swedish study of 55 children tested listening comprehension in noise with and without a virtual speaker. Noise reduced comprehension; visuals had limited benefit. Strong executive function aided performance only in quiet, suggesting complex effects.
Keywords: Listening, Comprehension, Noise, Education, Multimodality, Virtual humans, Classrooms
Investigation of the PM2.5, NO2 and O3 I/O ratios for office and school microenvironments
Kalimeri, Krysallia, K.
Using EU project data, I/O ratios of PM2.5, NO₂, and O₃ were compared in schools and offices. Schools showed lognormal pollutant distributions and higher indoor impacts, highlighting the need to account for setting-specific exposure dynamics.
Keywords: Fine particles, Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), Offices, School
The effects of different types of environmental noise on academic performance and perceived task difficult in adolescents with ADHD
Batho, Lauren
Youth with ADHD (N = 52) completed reading and writing tasks under white noise, speech, or silence. White noise improved speed and fluency but not accuracy, suggesting selective benefits of ambient sound in academic settings.
Keywords: Adolescent ADHD, Adolescents, Distraction, Academic performance, Perceptions
The effect of the shoeless course on particle concentrations and dust composition in schools
Leppänen, Maija
Finnish study compared particle levels in schools where shoes were removed at entry vs. near classrooms. PM10 and PM15 were lower in sock schools, suggesting that early shoe removal can reduce indoor dust and improve school air quality.
Keywords: Indoor air quality , Aerosol, respirable particulate matter (PM10), Elemental analysis
18-year evolution of asthma and allergic diseases in French urban schoolchildren in relation to indoor air pollutant levels
Sasso, Fabien
Follow-up of a 1998-1999 Marseilles study assessed asthma prevalence and PM2.5 exposure in schools. Despite lower pollutant levels in 2016, asthma remained linked to PM2.5, highlighting persistent risks from fine particles and other exposures.
Keywords: Asthma, Allergy prevalence, Epidemiology, Air pollution, children
A chemical dynamic model for the infiltration of outdoor size-resolved ammonium nitrate aerosols to indoor environments
Xie, Yangyang
A dynamic model of ammonium nitrate aerosol infiltration was developed and validated using mass spectrometry. Results highlight the influence of indoor HNO₃ levels, suggesting its critical role in indoor particulate chemistry and exposure.
Keywords: Ammonium nitrate, Chemical equilibrium, Indoor aerosols, Infiltration, Reversible reaction, Size distribution
Are classroom thermal conditions, lighting, and acoustics related to teacher health symptoms?
Lin, Shao
Cross-sectional survey of 428 NYS public schools linked poor thermal, lighting, and noise conditions to allergy and voice symptoms in teachers. Findings suggest environmental controls may reduce work-related health issues in classrooms.
Keywords: classroom, Dryness and noise, Health symptoms, Teachers, Thermal environment