From The Conversation · Rebecca Smullin Dawson · · 2m
Why old schools are making kids sick
Mold, heat, lead and asbestos in aging Pennsylvania school buildings are closing classrooms and harming student health.
In brief
Mold, heat, lead and asbestos in aging Pennsylvania school buildings are closing classrooms and harming student health. Children in older school buildings face serious health risks from environmental hazards, and their developing bodies make them especially vulnerable to these exposures. Originally reported by The…
Mold and heat shut down schools
Mold forced closures in at least four southwestern Pennsylvania districts this year. Pittsburgh Public Schools moved 35 buildings to remote learning during early September heat.
Pennsylvania schools are very old
The average Pennsylvania school building is 70 years old, about 20 years older than the national average. Pittsburgh schools average 90 years old.
Mold spreads fast and damages health
Mold spores trigger sinus congestion, coughing, wheezing and rashes in the short term. Long-term exposure causes chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung inflammation, headaches and memory loss.
“Mold can trigger severe asthma attacks in children already suffering from asthma.”
Damp spaces raise asthma risk 50%
The EPA found that damp, moldy indoor spaces increase asthma and breathing problem risk by as much as 50 percent.
Heat exhaustion and kidney damage
High classroom temperatures cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Heat waves strain the heart and kidneys, worsening chronic conditions and causing acute kidney injuries.
Heat reduces learning by 1% per degree
A study of 10 million students found that each 1 degree Fahrenheit increase in average school-year temperature reduced learning that year by about 1 percent.
Lead causes learning disabilities
Lead from deteriorating paint or old plumbing pipes causes neurological problems, learning disabilities and developmental delays in children. No amount of lead is safe.
“Health officials say no amount of lead is safe for children.”
Asbestos fibers damage lungs
Asbestos is a carcinogenic fibrous substance found in older school pipes, boilers and ducts. Damaged materials release fibers into the air that cause serious lung disease.
Radon seeps through old foundations
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that seeps into older buildings through foundation cracks and causes lung cancer. The EPA estimates nearly 1 in 5 schools has at least one classroom above safe radon levels.
Children's bodies are still developing
Children are not small adults. Their developing airways are especially sensitive to mold spores and indoor dampness, making environmental hazards carry greater health risks.
“Children are not small adults.”
Schools need healthy indoor environments
Federal and state health, environmental and educational departments offer services, materials and grants to help schools improve indoor environments. Student learning depends on it.
The big picture
Children in older school buildings face serious health risks from environmental hazards, and their developing bodies make them especially vulnerable to these exposures.
