Schools drowning in exhaust and diesel fumes

Exhaust, diesel fumes foul public schoolyards in U.S.

Many schools are located within 300 ft
of polluting highways, studies show.

Cheaper land, easy access for buses and convenient location often cause schools to be built near major roads and highways.

This has become a concern to parents, school staff and administrators, since children spend about a third of their day at school, often during the hours of heaviest traffic.

And the closer they are, the more they can be exposed to harmful pollutants. Within 500 feet of major roads, traffic pollution — a plume of suspended soot and gases — often carries pollutants at levels considered harmful by air-pollution researchers.

A 2008 study found that more than 10 percent of surveyed U.S. schools were located within about 300 feet of highways, the distance within which road pollution is most potent.

If a school is situated along a heavy truck route, the figures can get downright alarming. The diesel fuel that powers these trucks can produce 100 to 200 times more soot than gasoline engines, and the exhaust is so toxic that the World Health Organization classifies it as a carcinogen.

Some states in the U.S., e.g. California, passed a law requiring that new schools be built at least 500 feet from major roads. At existing schools, there are ways to reduce the danger, too: better air filters can help, for example, as can restricting kids’ time outside when traffic is heavy.

Dangerous vehicle emissions

The dangers of vehicle emissions have been known for years:  researchers in Europe first made the connection between children’s poor lung function and school-day exposure to traffic in 1993.

Ten years later a California Environmental Protection Agency study made a similar leap, finding that kids in San Francisco’s East Bay attending near-road schools were 5 to 8 percent more likely to suffer from bronchitis and asthma.

Proximity doesn’t necessarily equal risk, however. Schools uphill from a road often experience less pollution than those downhill. Wind plays a role, as does topography like sound walls and trees and hedges.

Source: Investigate West

Air purifiers for better IAQ in schools

Schools and educational centers can easily provide cleaner and healthier air in classrooms - by using portable and long-lasting air cleaners.

Electrocorp's RAP series

Electrocorp's air cleaners for schools and universities feature a substantial activated carbon filter (with at least 18 pounds of carbon) to remove chemicals, gases and odors, a HEPA filter to trap particles and dust and optional UV germicidal filtration to control mold, bacteria and viruses.

Among the air cleaners recommended for schools are the 5000 Series, the 6000 Series, the RAP series and the I-6500 series, which all come in various configurations and with many options.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

When school grounds are contaminated...

Some schools have been built on contaminated land
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

Schools are often newsworthy topics because of the importance they carry in our society. We all want our children to grow up in healthy, educational environments and yet mold infestations and other health hazards often plague these institutions.

Over the years, many studies and reports have come out about schools being built on contaminated grounds. As school boards rarely have much money, they sometimes choose to purchase land that has previously been used for industrial purposes. 

Some school boards may also form partnerships with companies to provide them with a dumping ground in return for the construction of different sports fields. Controversy around this very thing is the most recent story to develop.

Earlier this month, an extensive news article was written about a small New York town that has suffered from what seems like a break-out number of cancer cases in its high school students. Briarcliff is only 30 miles away from New York City, but its 8,000 people are close-knit. Boasting one of the best high schools in the country, Briarcliff is a prized location for parents seeking a quiet life with a good education system.

Unbeknownst to them, however, parents were sending their kids to a school where sports were played on contaminated grounds. Up to eight students fell ill with cancer and at least one died. 

Today, parents want some answers. Though there is no direct proof their children's illnesses were connected to the grounds, speculation abounds.

A short history

In 1998, the fields in Briarcliff were used as a dumping ground for a construction company. Though what was dumped was considered safe, many now doubt that claim. 

One year after the dumping took place, testing was done on the fields and high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were found. Some PAHs are known carcinogens and exposure can occur through inhalation, ingestion or touch.The levels were deemed safe at the time, however, so nothing was done.

The fields your children are playing on
may be contaminated.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

In 2007, parents started to complain that their children were finding broken glass and nails on the fields. Students were also exposed to a lot of dust and were having trouble breathing. One student spoke of the dust tasting like chemicals. 

The fields were finally closed in 2010, and remain that way today. The school is waiting for soil remediation to be done before re-opening it.

Some parents are considering a lawsuit against Briarcliff, but everyone knows it will be difficult to make a direct correlation between the cancer cases and the land that, though containing several different chemicals, was considered safe for use.

As a parent in this situation, would you bring forth a lawsuit? Let us know your thoughts.

Source: The Huffington Post

Controlling vapor intrusion in the school system

Though there is not much else to do besides soil remediation when the bulk of contaminated land is out on playing fields, many more schools have been built on or near toxic waste sites. Ideally, the schools should be moved, but that is not always possible.

When dealing with vapor intrusion and chemical exposure, the best option for indoor air quality is air cleaners. Not only will they adsorb chemicals and gases with activated carbon filters, but units fitted with our UV technology can also help keep mold from forming. Our medical-grade HEPA filters will add another level of cleaning by removing airborne particles, such as dust and pollen.

For more information on Electrocorp’s air cleaning units, visit us on our website or call 1-866-667-0297 to speak to one of our IAQ experts.

Show your support for greener and cleaner school environments. Become a member of this blog! 

Simple ways to improve IAQ in educational facilities

Educational facilities are in need of
improved indoor air quality.

With roughly one fifth of the U.S. population spending their days in educational facilities such as schools, day care and child care settings, universities and the like, experts are warning about the effects poor indoor air quality can have on students and teachers.

Studies have linked indoor air pollution with health risks and problems such as asthma, nausea, fatigue, headaches and other respiratory conditions.

By subjecting the student population as well as staff at educational facilities to poor indoor air quality, the polluted air can affect the health and well-being, concentration, attendance rates and student and staff performance.

Be aware of indoor air pollutants

Just because you can’t see or smell something, it doesn’t mean the air is clean.

In fact, any indoor environment will be polluted with biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold, allergens and dust particles, chemical and gaseous pollutants coming from building materials, paints, cleaning agents, inks, arts and crafts materials and more.

Take simple steps to improve the indoor air quality

1. Reduce chemical pollutants: High-efficiency room air filters with activated carbon provide a quick and simple way to remove gaseous pollutants. Switch to low emission cleaning products and avoid introducing more chemicals into the rooms as much as possible.
   


2. Control humidity: High humidity levels can lead to active mold growth and helps mildew, bacteria and dust mites to thrive. Keeping the humidity under 51 percent with the help of dehumidifier systems and using a room air filter with a medical-grade HEPA or UV germicidal filtration can help keep these types of contaminants under control.


3. Counter carbon-dioxide: A lack of proper ventilation and fresh air supply to students and staff has profound negative effects on their ability to concentrate and retain information. Make sure the ventilation systems are adequate, and that an adequate amount of fresh air is introduced into the different rooms.


4. Reduce allergens and asthmagens: A growing number of children are suffering from asthma and asthma-related school absences are common. High-efficiency air purifiers with HEPA and UV germicidal filtration can capture common asthma triggers such as pet dander (brought in on kids- clothing), roaches, dust mites and mold.



Electrocorp's RAP Series:
Powerful air cleaners

Source: Buildings.com

Choose the best all-in-one solution

Electrocorp specializes in high-efficiency, portable or HVAC-compatible air cleaners with activated carbon and HEPA filters as well as optional UV germicidal filtration and has developed a range of air cleaners for schools and universities.

With a wide variety of options, models and sizes, Electrocorp will have the right air cleaner to provide the cleanest most breathable air in any facility.

Contact Electrocorp for more information: 1-866-667-0297.