News Releases from Region 06

Protect Childrens Health with EPA School App

DALLAS - (Aug. 24, 2015) Are you looking for ways to promote a healthier learning environment, reduce absenteeism, improve test scores or enhance student or staff productivity? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched a new mobile app to assist schools with conducting indoor air quality assessments (IAQ). The School IAQ Assessment app provides direct guidance from EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit to help protect the health of children and staff.

As children return to school, we should make a special effort to raise awareness about their unique vulnerabilities. Children spend ninety percent of their time indoors, and much of that time is spent in school.
Unhealthy school environments can affect children's health, attendance, concentration and performance, as well as lead to expensive, time-consuming cleanup activities.

Half of the schools in the United States have adopted IAQ management programs. EPA developed the app to help schools more efficiently carry out their IAQ management programs. A study of the costs and benefits of green schools estimated a fifteen percent reduction in absenteeism and a five percent increase in test scores.

Take action to improve children's health! To learn more about the resources you need to establish, maintain or enhance a school environmental health program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/schools/.

One in seven children in the U.S. lives with asthma every day. These numbers clearly demonstrate that air quality impacts children's health. Our goal is that by 2030, the steps EPA is taking will avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths, 150,000 asthma attacks in children, and 490,000 missed work or school days - providing up to $93 billion in climate and public health benefits.

To download go to: www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/iaq_schools_mobile_app on your Apple or Android smart device.

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