Problem Classroom Contaminants

• Maintenance Chemicals: pesticides, disinfectants, deodorizers, waxes.
• Strong odors ("outgassing") from construction, renovation and furnishing projects involving carpeting, glue, paints, roofing materials, pressed board products.
• Office and classroom equipment and materials: solvent-based markers, printer, copy machines, craft and laboratory supplies.
• Car and school bus exhaust fumes.
• Scented personal products.
• Dusts and molds.
• Inadequate fresh air intake and ventilation.
• Poor air distribution.
• Temperature and humidity extremes.
• Poorly maintained ventilation systems.
• Emissions from nearby businesses, farms, factories, landfill sites.

In an average lifespan of 70 years, we breathe some 500 million to one billion times. The quality of the air we breathe intimately affects our personal state of health and vitality. When students and teachers are trapped in these energy-efficient, sick schools, and engulfed in a cloud of some 900 identified indoor air pollutant, many of which are capable of causing cognitive, behavioral and immune dysfunction, it should come as no surprise that reports of classroom-induced chemical injury are are escalating.