Air Quality Affect Learning
Ambient air pollution can be harmful to children. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitors the quality of the air around the United States. However, very few studies have examined the connection between air quality and academic performance. The associations between these factors have not been well-defined. Furthermore, many studies have been limited to low-income or ethnic minority communities, which are already associated with lower test scores. But one thing is clear: poor air quality can negatively affect kids’ cognition and affect their behavior.
Why Is Air Quality in Schools So Bad
The problem with indoor air quality is that it is hard to isolate its effects from other causes. While there are many reasons for poor indoor air quality, it is not certain that it is a significant cause of attention-deficit disorder or other common health conditions. Further research needs to be conducted to verify the effect of poor air quality on learning. The Clean Energy, Sharp Minds Act, introduced by Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass. ), aims to provide $20 million in grants to schools for installing and maintaining commercial air filters. The research will help determine whether the quality of indoor environment affects students’ learning.
Does Air Quality Affect Learning?
Some research also suggests that poor indoor air quality has a negative impact on the health and productivity of teachers. A study by the University of Illinois found that 80% of teachers cite the conditions of their classrooms as a factor in the quality of their teaching. As a result, an unhealthy indoor environment may lead to a lack of teacher retention. The same holds true for the school itself. Having poor air can cause a school to become closed, strained community-parent-teacher relations, and lower test scores. In addition, poor air quality can also reduce the lifespan of HVAC equipment, and reduce energy costs.
In addition to the health effects, poor indoor air quality also impacts the performance and concentration of students. In fact, more than 14 million school days are missed every year due to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. As well as the increased risk of asthma, students’ concentration levels are compromised. In addition to this, high humidity and low ventilation are also known to increase the risk of asthma. These conditions can even lead to mold growth, which increases the chances of the school closing.
Increasing ventilation in classrooms has been shown to improve student performance. Some studies have shown that students’ performance improves after more frequent breaks. A recent study of 16 classrooms in Chicago, Illinois, found that students with better air quality scored higher on tests. In addition, there is more evidence to support the importance of indoor air quality in education. If indoor air quality is poor, the school may not be the best place for learning.