Indoor air quality, ventilation and health symptoms in schools: an analysis of existing information

We reviewed the literature on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), ventilation, and building-related health problems in schools and identified commonly reported building-related health symptoms involving schools until 1999. We collected existing data on ventilation rates, carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations and symptom-relevant indoor air contaminants, and evaluated information on causal relationships between pollutant exposures and health symptoms. Reported ventilation and CO2 data strongly indicate that ventilation is inadequate in many classrooms, possibly leading to health symptoms. Adequate ventilation should be a major focus of design or remediation efforts. Total volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde (HCHO) and…

• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: AC03-76SF00098, DE-AC03-76SF00098, DE-AC03
• CE
  California Environmental Protection Agency
• OO
  Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

  Award: DE-AC03-76SF00098
• OO
  Office of Energy Efficiency