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 71 - 80 of 585 | Export entire research library
Risk of illness-related school absenteeism for elementary students with exposure to PM2.5 and O3
Zhang, Ting
Analyzed 687,748 illness-related absences from 2,564 Chinese elementary schools. PM2.5 and O₃ exposure increased risk of absence, with home care cases undercounted in hospital data. Supports pollution control and school-based illness tracking.
Keywords: Fine particulate matter, Ozone (O3), Children's health, Illness-related school absenteeism, Hospital visit record
Proximity of schools to roads and students’ academic performance: A cross-sectional study in the Federal District, Brazil
Requia, Weeberb J.
Analyzed test scores from 344,175 Brazilian students across 256 public schools. Greater road length near schools was linked to lower academic performance. Highlights environmental planning to protect learning in polluted urban zones.
Keywords: Traffic emissions, Students, Academic performance, Cross-sectional study, Brazil
Identification of potential indoor air pollutants in schools
Becerra, Jose A.
Measured CO₂, PM, dust, TVOC, and aldehydes in 18 classrooms across 9 Mediterranean schools. Indoor and outdoor sources shaped pollutant levels. Recommends targeted monitoring to reduce IAQ-related health risks.
Keywords: Indoor air quality, Air pollution, Indoor air guideline values, Mediterranean climate
Healthier schools during the COVID-19 pandemic: ventilation, testing and vaccination
Asanati, Kaveh
Commentary highlights mechanical and natural ventilation, HEPA filtration, and rapid testing as layered strategies for COVID-19 risk reduction in schools. Urges national ventilation guidance for school reopening.
Keywords:
Hazardous air pollutants are associated with worse performance in reading, math, and science among US primary schoolchildren
Grineski, Sara E.
Used longitudinal data from 16,000 US children to link kindergarten HAP exposure to reduced reading, math, and science scores through grade 3. Adds evidence that air pollution impairs academic development.
Keywords: Primary schools, Academic achievement, Air pollution, Math, Science, Reading, Early childhood longitudinal study, Kindergarten cohort
Estimating potential air quality impact of airports on children attending the surrounding schools
Henry, Ronald C.
Modeling study of 7 California airports used wind trajectory and school location data to estimate downwind student exposure. Over 65,000 students potentially face daily airport-related pollution risks, with higher exposure among disadvantaged groups.
Keywords: Air pollution, Airport, Children, Exposure, California, Los Angeles, Burbank, Long Beach, Santa Monica, San Jose, San Francisco, Nitrogen oxides, Sulfur dioxide, Black carbon, Carbon monoxide
Effects of PM2.5 on Third Grade Students’ Proficiency in Math and English Language Arts
Mullen, Casey
Study of 156 Utah schools examined third-grade test scores relative to chronic and peak PM2.5 exposure. Higher pollution linked to reduced math and ELA proficiency, with stronger effects in advantaged schools.
Keywords: Air pollution, PM 2.5, Environmental jsutice, Primary schools, Academic proficiency, Salt Lake County, Utah
Challenges of Access to WASH in Schools in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Case Study from Rural Central Kazakhstan
Bolatova, Zhanerke
Mixed-methods case study of WASH access in 3 rural Kazakh schools found gaps in drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure. Student-reported shortages may undermine health and SDG targets.
Keywords: Access to water in school, Access to sanitation in school, Access to hygiene in school, Availability of WASH, Accessibility of WASH, Operation of WASH, Maintenance of WASH, Sustainability
Breathing Room: Industrial Zoning and Asthma Incidence Using School District Health Records in the City of Santa Ana, California
Mock, Kelton
Cross-sectional analysis of 39,974 K–12 students in Santa Ana, CA linked industrial zone proximity with asthma prevalence and obesity risk. Findings highlight zoning’s role in pediatric health disparities.
Keywords: Asthma prevalence, Obesity, Children, Pediatrics, Industrial zone, Industry, Zoning, Latinx, Latino, Hispanic
Associations between species-level indoor microbiome, environmental characteristics, and asthma in junior high schools of Terengganu, Malaysia
Fu, Xi
Species-level indoor microbiome from 30 classrooms in Malaysian junior high schools was sequenced using PacBio and qPCR; certain bacteria were associated with asthma prevalence, suggesting a region-specific microbial exposure pattern affecting…
Keywords: Indoor microbiome, PacBio amplicon sequencing, Asthma symptoms, Malaysia, Environmental characteristics