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 351 - 360 of 585 | Export entire research library
School environmental factors are predictive for exercise-induced symptoms in children
Stelmach, Iwona
1033 participants were included into the analysis. Sixty seven(6.5%) children reported dyspnea/cough, and in 94(9.4%) children bronchoconstriction induced during PE lesson was documented. There is a correlation between the results of the ETC and…
Keywords: Exercise-induced cough, Exercise-induced bronchospasm, PE classes, Schoolchildren
Is direct-drinking water safe for children? An analysis of direct-drinking water quality and its risk factors in Shanghai elementary and middle schools
Hu, Fen
Results showed that the CFU, residual chlorine, COD, and turbidity of direct-drinking water in Shanghai elementary and middle schools ranged from <LOD->300 cfu/mL, <LOD-0.670 mg/L, 0.090–2.710 mg/L, and 0.100–2.050 NTU, respectively. The…
Keywords: Direct drinking water, Elementary and middle school, Children, Water safety, Health
Variability in exposure to ambient ultrafine particles in urban schools: Comparative assessment between Australia and Spain
Mazaheri, Mandana
The trends and modes of the quantified weekday average daily cycles of ambient PNC exhibited significant differences between the two cities. PNC increases were observed during traffic rush hours in both cases. However, the mid-day peak was dominant…
Keywords: Ambient particles, Exposure, New particle formation, Urban environmental, High isolation areas
Evaluation of drinking water quality in schools in a District Area in Hanoi, Vietnam
Hung, Dang The
All of the schools employed community water system as a main source for drinking water. The results showed that all tested samples were found to be within the standards for some physicochemical properties, including Color, Taste and Odor, Hardness…
Keywords: Drinking water, Tap water, Water quality, Chemicals, Microbes, Hanoi, Vietnam
Pilot study of a novel classroom designed to prevent myopia by increasing children's exposure to outdoor light
Zhou, Zhongqiang
The median (Inter Quartile Range) light intensity in the BC (2,540 [1,330–4,060] lux) was greater than the TC (477 [245–738] lux, P < 0.001), though less than outdoors (19,500 [8,960–36,000] lux, P < 0.001). A prominent spectral peak at 490–…
Keywords:
Health Risks and Potential Sources of Contamination of Groundwater Used by Public Schools in Vhuronga 1, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Odito, John Ogony
All physical and most chemical water quality parameters were within guidelines for domestic water use. A high proportion of schools had high levels of microbial organisms. Risks of infection per day were relatively low for all schools. The annual…
Keywords: Agricultural activities, Contamination, Groundwater quality, Health risks, Pit latrines, School children
Short-term effect of air pollution on attention function in adolescents (ATENC!Ó): A randomized controlled trial in high schools in Barcelona, Spain
Gignac, Florence
Average levels of PM2.5 and black carbon throughout the 1.5 h of experiment were 89% and 87%, respectively, lower in the classrooms with air cleaner than in the control classrooms. No differences were found in the median of HRT-SE between classrooms…
Keywords: Air pollution, Adolescents, Attention, Randomised control trial, High school
Students’ Perceived Heat-Health Symptoms Increased with Warmer Classroom Temperatures
Bidassey-Manilal, Shalin
A high proportion of students felt tired (97.2%), had low concentration (96.8%) and felt sleepy (94.1%) during at least one hour on any day. There were statistically significant correlations, when controlling for school cluster effect and time of…
Keywords: Temperature, Health, School, South Africa, Climate change
Ocular symptoms and tear film break up time (BUT) among junior high school students in Penang, Malaysia – Associations with fungal DNA in school dust
Norbäck, Dan
A total of 368 students (58%) participated and 17.4% reported weekly eye symptoms the last 3 months. The median SBUT and TBUT were 15 and 12 s, respectively. Students wearing glasses (OR 2.41, p = 0.01) and with a history of atopy (OR = 2.67; p = 0.…
Keywords: Tear film break up time, Eye symptoms, Mold, School environment, Fungal dna
Determining public perceptions of a proposed national heat protection policy for Australian schools
Hyndman, Brendon
Themes that emerged to support a national heat protection policy for schools included: protection from the consequences of extreme heat, reliance of children on adult/school decisions and utilising modern knowledge/technology advancements. In…
Keywords: Education, Heat policy, Protection, School, Wellbeing