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 91 - 100 of 355 | Export entire research library
Review of indoor radon concentrations in schools and kindergartens
Zhukovsky
Preliminary assessment of the worldwide population weighted characteristics of radon concentration in children’s institutions is: arithmetic mean = 59 and geometric mean = 36 Bq/m3. Higher indoor radon concentrations in children’s institutions in…
Keywords:
Evaluation on exposures to particulate matter at a junior secondary school: a comprehensive study on health risks and effective inflammatory responses in Northwestern China
Xu, H
The incremental lifetime cancer risks associated with PAHs were estimated and were 1.62 × 10−6 and 2.34 × 10−6, respectively, for indoor and outdoor fine PMs. Both the values exceeded the threshold value of 1 × 10−6, demonstrating that the…
Keywords: BC and PAHS, Cancer risks, Feno, Health assessment, Northwestern china, Particulate matter (PM)
A study evaluating noise levels at selected schools in the Czech Republic
Nedojedla, Petra
The mean equivalent A-weighted sound pressure level during lessons irrespective of age and subjects taught was 68.0
± 3.4 dB (uncertainty of measurement). The highest levels of noise were in physical education and arts; the lowest levels were…
Keywords: Equivalent sound pressure level, Primary schools, Noise, Teacher, Lessons
Classroom acoustics as a consideration for inclusive education in South Africa
Reenen, Coralie
Noise is disadvantageous for learners, particularly those with sensory, language or
learning impairments. Research and international guidelines show that the ideal ambient level
is 30 dBA – 35 dBA, allowing the achievement of an ideal…
Keywords:
Traffic-related air pollution, noise at school, and behavioral problems in Barcelona Schoolchildren: A cross-sectional study
Forns, Joan
Increases in indoor and outdoor EC, BC, and NO2 concentrations were positively associated with SDQ (behavioral development) total difficulties scores (suggesting more frequent
behavioral problems) in adjusted multivariate models, whereas noise…
Keywords:
Investigating listening effort in classrooms for 5- to 7-year-old children
Prodi, Nicola
It was found that when background noise
was present, the pupils' performance decreased, and
greater RTs were required compared to the “quiet
classroom” condition. When the RTs were analyzed
over the course of the…
Keywords:
The effect of noise on attention and performance in reading and writing tasks
Fernandes, Renata
The higher the score on the Sustained Attention Test, the shorter the time spent reading
and fewer errors in the dictation task. There were no differences across the three grades within the GEA (lower
levels of noise) with regard to the…
Keywords: Attention, Handwriting, Learning, Noise, Reading
The effects of classroom noise on the reading comprehension of adolescents
Connolly, Daniel
The
results showed that the performance of all pupils was significantly negatively affected in the 70 dB condition, for the number of questions attempted and the accuracy of answers to factual and word learning questions. It was harder to…
Keywords:
A preliminary investigation of sound-field amplification as an inclusive classroom adjustment for children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Wilson, Wayne
Potential proximate benefits were observed for all students with teachers rating student listening behaviours higher with SFA versus without SFA. Potential distant benefits were observed for students with ASD who showed greater improvements in one…
Keywords: Sound field amplification (sfa), Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Listening, Attention, Memory, Phonological processing, Educational achievement
Profiling Indian classroom listening conditions in schools for children with hearing impairment
Saravanan, Gomathi
The mean noise level and reverberation time in all classrooms exceeded recommended maximum levels. The measured SNRs were not optimal for children with hearing impairment. Observations of the classrooms revealed that acoustical treatments were…
Keywords: Acoustics, Classroom noise, Hearing loss, India, Reverberation, Schools for the deaf, Teacher voice