Table of Contents
Schools
Workplaces
Homes
Schools
The United States General Accounting Office (GAO) reports poor conditions and widespread potential health problems in our schools.
"Public concern is growing that while laws require children to attend school, buildings may be unsafe or even harmful to children's health". In a 1995 report to Congress the GAO estimated that 14 million students attend schools needing extensive repair or replacement, and that about half of all schools reported at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition - a situation that affects over 20 million school children.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that the schools are crowded. Most schools have occupancy rates approximately four times that of office buildings. According to the GAO "heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems were the most frequently reported building feature in need of extensive repair." Malfunctioning HVAC systems are often associated with mold and mildew problems in buildings. When allergists estimate 30% of all allergy and asthma patients are mold or mildew sensitive the threat posed to the health of students becomes apparent.
Asthma is the number 1 occupational lung disease and contributes to over 1,600 deaths each year.
The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) indicates the number of Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) investigations performed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has risen dramatically. In 1980, requests to evaluate office environments made up only 6% of the total requests for NIOSH investigations. In 1991, 44% of the investigations NIOSH performed were IEQ requests and in 1993, 75% of all investigations were for IEQ.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the largest source of IAQ contamination is microbiological contamination. Microbiological contamination can cause a wide variety of physical conditions from headaches and nausea to even death in the most extreme cases. Perhaps the most widely known form of microbiological contamination is Legionella. The CDC estimates that over 11, 000 cases of pneumonia among adults are attributable to Legionella contamination.
Employers should be aware that the American Disabilities Act requires building owners to provide employees with disabilities, such as workers with pre-existing lung ailments (asthma), with a friendly work environment.
Poor food handling techniques in the kitchen and other careless or ill-informed practices are being blamed for over 2 million cases of costly, readily preventable food-borne illnesses. There are certain "hot zones" in a house for pathogens. More care is needed in decontaminating food preparation surfaces. Proper hand washing and drying should be emphasized because even casual contact with contaminated surfaces may transfer pathogens onto foods or other places they shouldn't be. The use of antimicrobial sponges like the Brillo® All-Purpose Cleaning Pad will help prevent the growth of pathogens in the sponge which will reduce the likelihood of pathogen transfer from the sponge to other surfaces.
In 17 years of medical practice, first as a pediatrician and then as an allergist, Dr. William Spiegel has become convinced that controlling indoor air pollution in a home is often a key prescription for many of his allergy and asthma patients. He's seen the results pay off many times in active, healthier patients who can reduce and sometimes eliminate medication. "If the majority of allergens that a person is sensitive to are indoor allergens, then the chance that environmental control measures can be a major modality of therapy and be very effective is good, " Dr. Spiegel said. Dr. Spiegel has blunt advice for people who think their health or comfort may be affected by indoor air pollution. "Preventive therapy is a heck of a lot better than waiting till you're sick," he said. "My point is that indoor environmental control strategies should be instituted as soon as you know that there are allergies, if not before."
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