 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Peggy L. Jenkins, MS1, Thomas J. Phillips, MS1, Jed Waldman, PhD2, Kai-Shen Liu (deceased), PhD2, Gerald G. Akland, MS3, Roy W. Whitmore, PhD3, and Andrew C. Clayton, MES3. (1) Research Division, California Air Resources Board, 1001 I Street (5th Floor), P.O. Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812, 916-323-1504, mjenkins@arb.ca.gov, (2) Indoor Air Quality Program, California Department of Health Services, 2151 Berkeley Way (EHLB), Berkeley, CA 94704, (3) Research Triangle Institute, 3040 Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
Investigators examined environmental conditions in portable classrooms in K-12 public schools to identify conditions that pose risks to children's health. The study was conducted in two phases: a mailed survey and a field study of environmental measurements. In Phase I, questionnaires on facility and classroom operation and characteristics were mailed to teachers and facility managers at over 1000 randomly selected schools statewide, along with passive samplers for formaldehyde for a subset of schools. Portable (relocatable) classrooms had higher formaldehyde levels than did traditional classrooms, and average classroom concentrations were higher than some health-based guideline levels. Elevated formaldehyde levels were associated with identifiable building materials and furnishings in the classrooms. In Phase II of the study, field measurements of indoor environmental conditions were obtained in 67 randomly selected schools statewide, where batteries of measurements were conducted in two portable classrooms and one traditional classroom per school. Measurements included VOC and aldehyde concentrations; real-time CO2, CO, particles, and T/RH; HVAC system performance; and allergens, pesticides, metals, and PAHs in floor dust. This presentation will report the major results of the study and examine their implications for classroom design, construction, operation and maintenance specifications to assure a healthful classroom environment. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of their respective organizations.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Children's Health, School Health
Related Web page: www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/pcs/pcs.htm
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.