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 281 - 290 of 355 | Export entire research library
Human exposure to ozone in school and office indoor environments
Salonen, Heidi
The calculated median concentration of ozone both in school (8.50 μg/m3) and office (9.04 μg/m3) settings was well below the WHO guideline value of 100 μg/m3 as a maximum 8 h mean concentration. However, a large range of average concentrations of…
Keywords: Air pollution, Ozone (O3), Indoor sources, Outdoor sources, School environments, Office environments
Radon in Schools: A Review of Radon Testing Efforts in Canadian Schools
Shergill, Sandy
Overall, this research found that approaches to radon testing varied
considerably by province and region. Responsibility for radon testing in schools was often deferred between government, school boards, building managers and construction…
Keywords: Radon, School, Canada, Air pollution, Environment
Building-related symptoms are linked to the in vitro toxicity of indoor dust and airborne microbial propagules in schools: A cross-sectional study
Salin,, JT
The Poisson regression model showed that the impact of extracts of surface-wiped school classroom dust on teacher work-related BRS was 2.8-fold (95% CI: 1.6–4.9) higher in classrooms with a toxic threshold EC50 of 6 µg ml−1 versus classrooms with…
Keywords: Building-related symptoms, Indoor dust, Airborne toxicity, Sperm motility, Indoor toxicity
Portable dehumidifiers as an original matrix for the study of inhalable nanoparticles in school
Silva, Luis F.O.
In short, the data of the investigational studies here shown are quite positive regarding the use of air conditioners to decrease the indoor exposure to airborne particle concentrations indoor. Potential hazardous elementsCarbonaceous…
Keywords: Potential hazardous elements, Carbonaceous matter, dehumidifier, Cooling load, Indoor schools, Health
The ventilation problem in schools: literature review
Fisk, W.J
There is evidence that reduced respiratory health effects and reduced student absence are associated with increased ventilation rates. Increasing ventilation rates in schools imposes energy costs and can increase heating, ventilating, and air-…
Keywords: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Costs, Health, Performance, School, Ventilation
Dampness and student-reported social climate: two multilevel mediation models
Finell, Eerika
After the background variables were adjusted, schools' observed mould and dampness was not significantly related to neither student-perceived teacher-student relationships nor class spirit. However, our mediational models showed that there were…
Keywords: Indoor air quality, Class spirit, Multilevel analysis, Teacher-student relationships, Indoor environmental problems, Mold, Dampness
Relationships between social climate and indoor environmental quality and frequently reported health symptoms among teachers and staff in a suburban school district
Martenies, Sheena
We found that a one standard-deviation (10.5) increase in the overall social climate score was associated with a 0.77-fold (95% CI: 0.60–0.99) change in the number of frequent health symptoms reported. However, this association was attenuated among…
Keywords: Environmental quality, Indoor air quality, School health, Social climate, Teacher health
Indoor ozone: Concentrations and influencing factors
Nazaroff, William
Measurements in approximately 2000 indoor environments (residences, schools, and offices) show a central tendency for average indoor ozone concentration of 4–
6 ppb and an indoor to outdoor concentration ratio of about 25%. Considerable…
Keywords: Chemistry, Offices, Residences, School, Surface reactions, Ventilation
Radon in Schools: A Brief Review of State Laws and Regulations in the United States
Gordon, Kelsey
State regulations related to the testing, mitigation, and public dissemination of radon
levels in schools are inconsistent and the lack of nationwide indoor radon policy for schools may result in unacceptably high radon exposure levels in some…
Keywords: Radon exposure, Environmental health of schools, State policy
Classroom Temperature and Learner Absenteeism in Public Primary Schools in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
Pule, Vicky
we found absenteeism was highest at low indoor classroom Tapp (i.e., below 15 °C). Absenteeism decreased as indoor Tapp increased to about 25 °C before showing another increase in absenteeism. Analyses of indoor classroom temperature and absenteeism…
Keywords: Climate change, Cold, Environmental health, Heat, Public health, Humidity, Schoolchildren