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Environmental Health Health Hazards in Public Schools

Environmental Health Health Hazards in Public Schools. Loretta S. Shaw, Ph.D. student Walden University PUBH-8165-3 Instructor: Dr. Jeff Wu Summer Term, 2009. Purpose.

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Environmental Health Health Hazards in Public Schools

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  1. Environmental HealthHealth Hazards in Public Schools Loretta S. Shaw, Ph.D. student Walden University PUBH-8165-3 Instructor: Dr. Jeff Wu Summer Term, 2009

  2. Purpose • This program is designed to increase the participant’s knowledge regarding in-door environmental hazards found within the public school systems

  3. Program Objectives - Understand the importance of in-door air qualities - Introduce chemicals used frequently in schools - Discuss day to day exposure of hazardous materials - Explain what causes illness - Examine school safety options regarding air quality

  4. Target Audience • Council Bluffs Public School District • Lewis Central Community School District • St. Albert’s Catholic Schools

  5. Stakeholders • School Administrators • School Board Members • Principals • Facility Managers • Teachers • Custodians • School Nurses • Parents • Community Members

  6. Mission of Stakeholders * To become a voice for the health and wellbeing of our students, faculty, staff and community so that a positive learning environment is achieved.

  7. Did you know? • More than 53 million children and 6 million adults utilize schools each day • In the United States there are more than 120,000 public and private schools • Most people spend 87-90% of their time inside • According to the EPA indoor air pollution is ranked among the top 5 environmental risks to public health Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

  8. How Do Our Schools Compare? • USA Today published statistics on 128,000 schools across the United States. • This publication measured the amount of outdoor air pollution that was found within our school buildings. • An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tool was used to collect the data. Source: USA Today, (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  9. Abraham Lincoln High School School District: Council Bluffs Community Schools • National Rank: 31st percentile • 39,528 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other health related problems Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  10. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity • Manganese and manganese compounds 52% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 11% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 9% of overall toxicity • Hydrochloric acid 7% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 4% of overall toxicity Source: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  11. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Abraham Lincoln High School • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska • Fres-Co System USA Inc. Red Oak Red Oak, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) Smoke Stack Effect Report

  12. Thomas Jefferson High School School District: Council Bluffs Community Schools • National Rank: 1st percentile • 326 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other health related problems Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  13. Chemical Most Responsible for Toxicity • Manganese and manganese compounds 93% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 5% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 1% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 0% of overall toxicity • Xylene (mixed isomers) 0% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  14. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics outside Thomas Jefferson High School • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska • Paxton & Vierling Steel Co Carter Lake, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) Smoke Stack Effect Report

  15. Lewis Central Senior High School • School District: Lewis Central Community • National Rank: 12th percentile • 14,385 of 127,809 schools have worse air • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other health hazards Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect Report

  16. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside Lewis Central High School • Manganese and manganese compounds 60% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 13% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 7% of overall toxicity • Hydrochloric acid 5% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 4% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  17. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Lewis Central High School • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center, Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc, Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station, Omaha, Nebraska • Bunge North America Inc, Council Bluffs, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) Smoke Stack Effect Report

  18. Gerald W Kirn Junior High School • School District: Council Bluffs Community • National Rank: 27th percentile • 33,776 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other illnesses Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  19. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside Kirn Junior High • Manganese and manganese compounds 49% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 15% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 10% of overall toxicity • Hydrochloric acid 6% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 4% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  20. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside of Kirn Junior High • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska • Fres-Co System USA Inc. Red Oak Red Oak, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect Report 

  21. Lewis Central Middle School • School District: Lewis Central Community • National Rank: 18th percentile: • 22,170 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other illnesses Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  22. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside this School • Manganese and manganese compounds 69% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 8% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 6% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 4% of overall toxicity • Hydrochloric acid 4% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  23. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Lewis Central Middle School • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska • Fres-Co System USA Inc. Red Oak Red Oak, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute an USA Today (2009) the Smoke Stack Effect Report

  24. Bloomer Elementary School • School District: Council Bluffs Community • National Rank: 2nd percentile • 1,627 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other illnesses Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  25. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside Bloomer Elementary • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 80% of overall toxicity • Manganese and manganese compounds 9% of overall toxicity • Hexane, n- 9% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 1% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 1% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  26. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Bloomer Elementary • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Bunge North America Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect Report

  27. Edison Elementary School • School District: Council Bluffs Community • National Rank: 1st percentile • 326 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other illnesses Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  28. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside Edison Elementary • Manganese and manganese compounds 93% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 5% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 1% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 0% of overall toxicity • Xylene (mixed isomers) 0% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  29. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Edison Elementary • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska • Paxton & Vierling Steel Co Carter Lake, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect Report

  30. Franklin Elementary School • School District: Council Bluffs Community • National Rank: 2nd percentile • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other illnesses Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  31. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside Franklin Elementary • Manganese and manganese compounds 91% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 5% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 2% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 1% of overall toxicity • Hydrochloric acid 0% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  32. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Franklin Elementary • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Paxton & Vierling Steel Co Carter Lake, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect Report 

  33. Gunn Elementary School • School District: Council Bluffs Community • National Rank: 29th percentile • 36,783 of 127,809 schools have worse air. • Note: Rankings are based on modeled concentrations and severity of chemicals known or believed to cause cancer or other illnesses Source: USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect

  34. Chemicals Most Responsible for the Toxicity Outside Gunn Elementary • Manganese and manganese compounds 52% of overall toxicity • Toluene diisocyanate (mixed isomers) 11% of overall toxicity • Sulfuric acid 10% of overall toxicity • Hydrochloric acid 6% of overall toxicity • Lead and lead compounds 4% of overall toxicity Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

  35. Businesses Most Responsible for Toxics Outside Gunn Elementary • Griffin Pipe Products Co. Council Bluffs, Iowa • MidAmerican Energy Co Council Bluffs Energy Center Council Bluffs, Iowa • Future Foam Inc Council Bluffs, Iowa • Omaha Public Power District North Omaha Station Omaha, Nebraska • Fres-Co System USA Inc. Red Oak Red Oak, Iowa Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, University of Massachusetts at Amherst Political Economy Research Institute and USA Today (2009) The Smoke Stack Effect Report 

  36. Healthy School Environment • Safety • Cleanliness • Positive Attitudes and Behaviors • Exposure to Chemicals • Air and Water Quality Source: Healthy Schools Campaign, 2009

  37. American Lung Association • - Indoor air pollutants may be 2-5 times higher than outdoor air pollution • Poor indoor air quality may be subtle Source: American Lung Association, 2009

  38. Lungs • Most Affected Organ from Air Pollution Source: Colome, McCunney, Samet & Swankin, 1994

  39. Indoor Air Quality for Schools • - As important as maintaining the facilities • - Linked to test performance • - Better air quality leads to better attendance • - Physical comfort Source: Healthy Schools Campaign, 2009

  40. Health Concerns • - Bronchial Infections • - Exacerbation of Asthma • - Rhinitis • - Conjunctival Inflammation • - Dyspnea • - Cough • - Fever • - Malaise • - Chest Tightness Source: American Lung Association, 2009

  41. Children and Air Quality • - Children may be more vulnerable to environmental exposure because of the following: • Rapid growth and development • More breaths per minute in proportion to their body size • Their behaviors can expose them to more chemicals and organisms. Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

  42. Six Main Sources of Indoor Air Pollution • Combustion by-products • Microorganisms and allergens • Formaldehyde and other organic compounds • Asbestos Fibers • Tobacco Smoke • Radon Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

  43. Environmental Dangers in Schools • Chemical Releases • Pesticide Exposure • Mold • Asbestos • Lead Based Paint • Volatile Organic Chemicals Source: Healthy Schools Campaign, 2009

  44. How Do We Improve? • Every person within the school district has a role • Clean Indoor Air Faculty Program • Informational Meeting for All Families • Educational Campaigns Source: Healthy Schools Campaign, 2009

  45. Strategies to Improve Air Quality • Pollutant Source Removed • Increased Ventilation Rates • Air Cleaning • Education and Communication Source: Healthy Schools Campaign, 2009

  46. Sick Building Syndrome • Illnesses due to poor air quality • Caused by chemicals within the building • 3 Factors: - Inadequate ventilation - Poor system performance in the building - Ventilation system is the problem Source: American College of Medical Technology, 2009

  47. Healthy Seat Program • Computerized Tool • Sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

  48. High Performance Schools • Better Learning Environment • Saves Energy • Comfortable Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

  49. Benefits of High Performance Schools • Higher Test Scores • Increased Daily School Attendance • Teacher Satisfaction • Reduction of Negative Environmental Impacts • Heat/Air Minimizes Pollutant Sources Source: Environmental Protection Agency, 2009

  50. Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools • Helps to maintain a healthy environment • Website to download these tools is: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/index.html Source: Environmental Protection Agency (2009)

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