Bradford Council’s Post

Improving Air Quality in UK Schools: A Critical Health and Educational Issue 🌿🏫 In November 2024, Schools' Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education (SAMHE) highlighted the growing concern of poor air quality in UK schools and its impact on both health and education. The Issue Poor air quality, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5), affects pupils' and staff health, attention, and cognitive performance. Ventilation rates in UK schools are significantly low, worsening during winter, increasing CO2 levels, and promoting the spread of airborne viruses. No current requirements exist to routinely monitor air quality in schools, and outdated guidance is not adequately addressing these issues. Why It Matters Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution, and poor air quality in schools can lead to increased absenteeism, decreased academic performance, and long-term health issues. Improving air quality could have broad societal and economic benefits, including better public health, school attendance, and educational outcomes. Key Recommendations The UK governments should commit to meeting the 2021 WHO Air Quality Guidelines. School air quality guidelines need to be updated to ensure proper ventilation and clean air. Evidence-based interventions should be implemented where needed. School leaders and staff should be educated on the management of air quality in schools. Improving air quality in schools is not just about creating a healthier learning environment, it's an investment in the future of our children. Learn more about how we can make our schools safer and healthier for all. Visit https://bit.ly/41tmTCm. Explore this innovative air quality solution, the Odeo Upperviolet: https://bit.ly/3ZLY3MM #AirQuality #PublicHealth #Education #SAMHE #Schoolimprovement #Sustainability #HealthAndEducation

PM2.5 are fine particles found in the air. This type of air pollution affects school performance of children, thus likely contributing to education inequality, according to a new study by Fabrizio Bernardi (UNED) & Risto Conte Keivabu (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research). The study explores the effect of exposure to PM2.5 at schools on students’ test scores in Italy: https://lnkd.in/eCyEXSHX

School air quality guidance should be updated to focus on providing good ventilation and good air quality. Children are particularly vulnerable to air pollution because they inhale more air than adults in proportion to their body weight, are less able to control their exposure than adults, and pollution can affect developing tissues creating lifelong health implications. #airquality #airpollution #indoorairquality #iaq #ieq #ventilation #hvac #healthybuilding #education #uk https://lnkd.in/eHYwdW-M

Those who are interested in air quality monitoring, health issues and social fairness are encouraged to take a look at the most recent article I edited for Frontiers in Public Health, section Environmental health and Exposome.

Addressing lead contamination in drinking water is crucial for safeguarding public health but remains a widespread issue in our contemporary. In this Schumpeter Circle article, Dr. Upmanu Lall and colleagues discuss various strategic frameworks towards sustainable, lead-free water systems for communities around the world. https://lnkd.in/g3VVqamx

In Africa, limited air quality monitoring, rising rates of pollution and more cases of heart disease are creating a perfect storm. Dr Mark Miller, chair of the World Heart Federation Air Pollution and Climate Change Expert Group, and Prof. Mariachiara Di Cesare, director of the Institute of Public Health and Wellbeing at the University of Essex, and member of the World Heart Federation Science Committee, write for Context. Read the full opinion piece: https://lnkd.in/eDW3M37h

"The COVID-causing virus SARS-CoV-2 is far from the only airborne risk in schools. There are also other respiratory viruses, smoke from wildfires, mold spores, off-gassing from plastics and other compounds, air pollution from traffic and industry, and allergens that worsen asthma and add to sick days. Yet federal air standards are stuck in the 1970s, when they were mostly aimed at protecting people from secondhand tobacco smoke, says Joseph Allen, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Fully updated standards for buildings are years or even decades away." As someone with - a background in chemical engineering and environmental studies, - a career that began in contaminated sites / environmental consulting, - almost 5 years experience navigating the pandemic as an immunocompromised parent of two school age kids, triggering my research hound and "but that's not right" instincts, I agree completely with this Scientific American article. IAQ is the next, and urgent, frontier. We need to respond NOW to the current pandemic, as well as increased zoonosis and wildfire smoke resulting from the #ClimateCrisis. This is also a workplace safety issue, esp in healthcare and education, which consistently have the highest numbers of COVID claims. And, it's also a #HumanRights issue, as the risk burden falls disproportionately on those with disabilities who are at higher risk of worse acute and chronic outcomes from infection. https://lnkd.in/gtj9TfcH

Did you miss our recent webinar on winter wood smoke? Listen back to this important discussion regarding the number one source of particulate pollution in most Australian cities: wood heaters. https://lnkd.in/geWHH_rX

APHA and SciCAN are co-hosting a webinar focused on environmental factors that influence public health. Register to watch this discussion: https://lnkd.in/gQ_wjjN3 🌍Current environmental and public health systems focus too narrowly on single pollutants and individual sources, leading to significant environmental injustice. We must transform our regulatory practices to address the complex socioeconomic factors that disproportionately affect overburdened communities. Together, let’s advocate for a holistic approach that considers the many stressors impacting our health and environment.

A new study in #JDevstudies by Eleanya Nduka and Modupe Jimoh highlights the effects of indoor air pollution on Nigerian preschoolers: Insights: 🔹 High carbon monoxide exposure is linked to delays in motor, problem-solving, and cognitive skills. 🔹 Children in households using clean cooking fuels consistently perform better in developmental assessments. 🔹 Health outcomes are also significantly worse for children exposed to indoor air pollution. 🔑 Takeaway: Cleaner energy solutions are essential to protect children's health and cognitive potential, especially in vulnerable communities. Read more ➡️ : https://lnkd.in/eiqakwMP