IAQ Concerns Worry Many Parents as Children Return Back to School

PRLog (Press Release) - Aug. 6, 2012 - In many parts of the country, children have already begun the new school year while others are enjoying a few final weeks of vacation.  During the summer months many classrooms sat empty while some school districts used the break to conduct renovation and remodeling activities in the empty classrooms.

Some of these vacant rooms experienced water leaks and moisture intrusion from heavy summer storms.  In those schools not impacted directly by storms, high humidity levels due to a lack of ventilation could also have caused potential problems.   Parents, students and faculty should be on the lookout for any signs of mold growth in these rooms.

People should also be on the lookout in schools that used the summer break to conduct renovation projects.  These projects can aerosolize already existing mold spores that were located in wall cavities, ceilings and behind furniture and other classroom fixtures.

“Mold only takes 24 to 48 hours to begin to grow under the right conditions,” reported Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, an indoor air quality (IAQ) test kit producer.  “Even remodeled classrooms and brand new schools can have issues with microbial and chemical pollutants.  Shiny new classrooms may have issues with furnishing and building materials off-gassing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde.  They may also have improperly designed heating, cooling and ventilation systems that could result in the buildup of carbon dioxide and even carbon monoxide.”

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. In addition, if schools fail to respond promptly to poor IAQ, students and staff are at an increased risk of short-term health problems, such as fatigue and nausea, as well as long-term problems like asthma.”  

As one of the leading suppliers of indoor air quality test kits used by concerned parents, teachers and school administrators, IAQ Index encourages people to learn more about IAQ and student performance by watching:
http://youtu.be/8QxdcORr-1M




To learn more about testing for IAQ issues, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA’s Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11943377/1