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 211 - 220 of 585 | Export entire research library
Wastewater based measures of COVID-19 and associations with children's absenteeism at grade schools
Solo-Gabriele, Helena M.
A study of nine U.S. schools monitored wastewater SARS-CoV-2 and absenteeism over 18 months. Higher viral loads, especially in enclosed schools, correlated with increased absences, supporting wastewater monitoring as a school health indicator.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Illness-related school absenteeism, Wastewater, Wastewater-based surveillance
High prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths among primary students in Ha Giang, Vietnam
Nhu, Dang Duc
A cross-sectional study in Ha Giang, Vietnam found a 76.1% soil-transmitted helminth infection rate among primary students, mostly light-intensity Ascaris and Trichuris. Findings support expanded hygiene, water access, and deworming programs.
Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides, Ha Giang, Hookworms, Primary students, School-aged children, Soil-transmitted helminths, Trichuris, Trichuria, Vietnam
Proposing adjustments to heat safety thresholds for junior high and high school sports clubs in Japan
Oyama, Takahiro
Using a case-crossover design and national WBGT data, this study found rising heat illness risk among Japanese student athletes. Results support lowering heat safety thresholds by 3°C for high-risk sports and early practices to better protect…
Keywords: Heat-related illness, Sports club activities, Wet-bulb temperature, Case-crossover study, Heat safety thresholds
Increased Risk of Influenza-Like Illness Clusters in Schools, Taiwan from 2011 to 2020: A Retrospective Study
Chou, Yu-Ching
This national study analyzed ILI clusters in Taiwanese schools from 2011–2020. Rising risks across all school levels revealed major infection control gaps, underscoring the need for stronger school-based epidemic prevention measures.
Keywords:
Quantification of droplet and contact transmission risks among elementary school students based on network analyses using video-recorded data
Kikuchi, Shuta
Using video and network modeling, researchers quantified droplet and contact transmission risks among Tokyo elementary students. Simulations showed shared items and close contact as key pathways, informing school-based infection prevention…
Keywords:
“I Need the Shade”: Experiences and Perceptions of Elementary School Children During Recess in Hot Weather
Poulos, Allison
This qualitative study used draw-and-tell methods with 38 Arizona students to explore recess during extreme heat. Children reported discomfort and adaptations, highlighting the need for design and policy to support safe outdoor play in hot…
Keywords: Heat, Physical activity, Play, Playgrounds
Description of air quality and environmental characteristics in primary school classrooms in the Community of Madrid
Pérez-Moneo, Begoña
A longitudinal study measured PM2.5, CO2, VOCs, temperature, and humidity in four Madrid schools. PM2.5 and VOCs exceeded thresholds in a large share of samples, underscoring the need for improved indoor air quality management in schools.
Keywords: Child, Schools, Indoor air quality, Particulate matter (PM)
Practical considerations for using low-cost sensors to assess wildfire smoke exposure in school and childcare settings
Stampfer, Orly
This study measured PM2.5 at four Washington schools using low-cost sensors and gravimetric samplers. Results showed large within-school variation and found that frequent, multi-day handheld monitoring improves indoor/outdoor ratio estimates during…
Keywords: Low-cost sensors, Wildfire smoke., Particulate matter (PM), Schools, Indoor air quality
From Entry to Outbreak in a High School Setting: Clinical and Wastewater Surveillance of a Rare SARS-CoV-2 Variant
Sachse, Sven
Researchers used wastewater and sequencing to detect SARS-CoV-2 B.1.640.2 before diagnosis in a German high school outbreak. Contact tracing confirmed spread across institutions, highlighting wastewater’s value for early variant detection.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, Outbreak investigation, Wastewater
Observed mask wearing and presence of SARS-CoV-2 in school wastewater, San Diego County, CA, 2022
Fielding-Miller, Rebecca
This observational study linked masking behaviors to SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at 10 San Diego elementary schools. A 10% rise in masking corresponded to a 10% drop in viral detection, supporting masking as a school mitigation tool.
Keywords: Mask wearing, Wastewater, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Schools