• The Problem Defined
• Government Standards
• Improving Indoor Air Quality
• Ventilation Problems In Closed Schools
• Ventilation Problems in Schools With Windows
• Temperature and Relative Humidity
• Copying Equipment
• Pesticides
• Vocational and Art Classes
• Science Rooms and Laboratories
• Air Quality During Renovation Work
• Coal-Fueled Boilers
• Pollution From Outside Sources
• Resolving Indoor Air Quality Problems

INTRODUCTION

The UFT receives more complaints from its members about poor indoor air quality in schools than about any other health and safety issue. Some staff complain about irritation of the nose and throat, dry or itching eyes and asthmatic-type reactions that appear to be caused by something in the air.

Others experience headaches, drowsiness and difficulty concentrating.

Many of the problems can be traced to inadequate ventilation or to indoor pollution sources like toxic materials used in shop, art and science classes, photocopy machines that produce ozone, and microbial contamination. Excessive heat and low relative humidity may play a role.

In most situations, indoor air pollution is not a serious, long-term threat to health, but it can result in significant physical discomfort and interfere with the ability of students to learn and UFT members to do their jobs. In other cases, however, those annoying symptoms could be the tip-off to more threatening air pollution.

In many schools the UFT has been able to recommend air quality improvements that custodians or the Board can do quickly and at minimal cost. However, in other schools—particularly those that rely entirely on mechanical ventilating systems and lack windows that open (so-called “closed” schools) — major renovations may be required to fully resolve the air quality problems. For example, at Brandeis High School, a closed school, the work topped $12 million.

The UFT has lobbied aggressively for more funds to improve air quality in closed buildings. And it continues to lobby for city, state and federal legislation that would set standards for acceptable indoor air quality in schools and other public buildings.

This booklet describes the major sources of indoor air pollution and the measures that can be taken to improve indoor air quality. It also discusses how the UFT can assist school staff to resolve indoor air pollution problems.

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