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78 Healthy Schools 2015 Coalition for Healthier Schools …providing the national platform and the forum for environmental health at school, since 2001… Coordinated by Health Schools Network Position Statement and Policy Recommendations Each school day, 55 million children and 7 million adults — 20% of the total U.S. population and 98% of children—spend their days inside school buildings. Unfortunately, too many of our nation's 130,000 public and private schools are "unhealthy" buildings that can harm their health and hinder learning. Today, clear and convincing research shows that improving specific factors such as school indoor environmental quality improves attendance, academic performance, and productivity (IOM 2011; NRC, 2006; US EPA). About children Children are more vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards because they're smaller, have developing organs, and breathe more air per pound of body weight. They cannot identify hazards. Adverse exposures and injuries during childhood may have a lifetime impact. See www.EPA.gov/children School factors affecting health Many school environmental factors can affect the health of children and employees. Too many schools are sited near industrial plants or toxic waste sites; some are on abandoned landfills. Many school facilities are poorly maintained. Schools densely occupied magnify problems. Thousands of schools are severely overcrowded, which compromises ventilation systems, acoustics, food service, recess, and sanitation and lavatories. Children also spend extra hours in vehicles or buses when their schools are beyond safe walking and biking distances. The U.S. EPA has estimated that up to half of all schools have problems with indoor environmental quality (see www.EPA.gov/schools). Children and staff are all affected by: • polluted indoor and outdoor air • toxic chemical and pesticide uses; chemical spills • mold infestations • asbestos and radon • lead in paint and drinking water • inadequate chemical management • poor siting, design, engineering • hazardous materials purchased and stored onsite • heavy metals and other toxics, such as mercury, CCA, PCBs Results of unhealthy schools: • 60% of all children suffer health and learning problems due solely to the conditions of their schools; • Increased child and staff health problems and absenteeism; • More asthma, allergies, headaches, fatigue, nausea, rashes and chronic illnesses; • Sick Building Syndrome/Building Related Illness • More medication use by children and staff; • Learning and behavior difficulties that worsen; • Greater liability for school districts; • Reduced academic achievement; and • Reduced revenues due to poor attendance.

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