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 261 - 270 of 680 | Export entire research library
Factors affecting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in school settings
Yuan, Haokun
Analysis of 35 global school SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks shows higher community transmission and individualism increase risk, while distancing, masking, and population immunity lower it. Preschool students had lower risk than high schoolers. Prevention and…
Keywords: COVID-19, children, preventive measures, School, secondary attack rate
A novel CO2-based demand-controlled ventilation strategy to limit the spread of COVID-19 in the indoor environment
Li, Bingxu
A novel CO2-based DCV strategy controls COVID-19 transmission indoors while saving 30%-50% energy versus fixed ventilation. Future work includes addressing CO2 measurement issues, uneven pollutant distribution, and refining infector estimation for…
Keywords: Demand-controlled ventilation, COVID-19, CO₂ concentration, Event reproduction number, Ventilation control scheme
A systematic approach to quantify the influence of indoor environmental parameters on students' perceptions, responses, and short-term academic performance
Brink, Henk W.
A systematic approach assessed combined effects of indoor air quality, thermal, acoustic, and lighting conditions on students’ perceptions, physiological and cognitive responses, and short-term academic performance, confirming validity except for…
Keywords: Performance, classrooms’ indoor environmental quality, Health, Higher education, Student responses, Quality of learning
A user-friendly tool to assess combined exposures to indoor air pollutants in public spaces of children
Meek, M.E.
This study presents a user-friendly screening tool for assessing health risks from combined indoor air pollutant exposures in schools and child care settings, integrating WHO frameworks, exposure assessment aids, and a toxicological database to…
Keywords: Combined exposures, Indoor air pollutants, Assessment group, Hazard index, Adjusted point of departure index, Settings for children
Airborne fungal and bacterial microbiome in classrooms of elementary schools during the COVID-19 pandemic period: Effects of school disinfection and other environmental factors
Yang, Jun I. L.
Environmental factors including disinfection, temperature, and coastal location influence classroom airborne microbiomes during COVID-19. Recent disinfection reduced bacterial DNA levels; outdoor microbiomes affected indoor diversity, underscoring…
Keywords: Bioaerosol, Disinfection, microbiome, NGS, Particulate matter (PM), QPCR
Children's effortful control skills, but not their prosocial skills, relate to their reactions to classroom noise
Jessica Massonie
This study links noise sensitivity in elementary children to lower effortful control skills but not prosocial skills, highlighting that children with weaker self-regulation may be more vulnerable to classroom noise and its impact on learning.
Keywords: Noise, Noise sensitivity, Health, children, Classrooms, Attention, Distraction, Annoyance, Temperament, Prosocial skills
Combined effects of ventilation rates and indoor temperatures on cognitive performance of female higher education students in a hot climate
Ahmed, R.
This study found female students’ cognitive performance improves at indoor temperatures of 20-23°C and CO2 levels around 600 ppm, indicating that optimal ventilation and thermal control enhance learning in educational buildings during short-term…
Keywords: Air-conditioned buildings, Cognitive performance, Educational buildings, Hot climates, Indoor air quality , Ventilation
Definition of an Indoor Air Sampling Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Risk Management: Case Study in Kindergartens
Cattivelli, Daniela
This study develops and tests a strategy for SARS-CoV-2 air sampling in two Milan kindergartens, demonstrating its effectiveness as a tool for managing airborne infection risk in indoor school environments with children and teachers.
Keywords: COVID-19, Risk assessment and control, Hazard identification, Aerosol transmission, Droplet transmission, bioaerosol sampling, Sampling plan, Standard guideline, School
Development of a Bayesian inference model for assessing ventilation condition based on CO2 meters in primary schools
Hou, Dandin
This study uses Bayesian inference to calibrate ventilation rates and analyze CO2 data in four primary school classrooms, identifying key uncertainties and showing that frequent CO2 measurements better capture ventilation dynamics critical for…
Keywords: COVID-19, Bayesian calibration, Markov chain, Monte carlo, Ventilation rate, School, carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Assessment of indoor and outdoor air quality in primary schools of Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic measures in May-July 2021
Konstantinou, Corina
The STEPS study in Cyprus primary schools assessed indoor air quality during COVID-19 protocols, finding high temperatures and PM2.5 exceedances. Ventilation reduced CO2 but increased PM2.5, highlighting the need for balanced air quality and heat…
Keywords: Indoor air quality , School, Environmental pollutants, Sensors, Exposure, COVID-19 measures