Why Is School Indoor Environmental Quality Important?

 Every school day, one fifth of the U.S. population spends time in a school, so this problem affects a lot of people. IEQ problems and sources include dirt and dust, mold from moisture incursion, pesticides, vehicle exhaust from idling vehicles, toxic cleaners, inadequate ventilation, and other problems.

Poor indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in Connecticut schools is a serious public health problem as it can:

• • increase the chances for health problems for students and staff
  • impact the learning environment, comfort and school attendance
  • reduce the productivity of staff
  • pose potential liability issues for school systems and school boards
    

• Many IAQ problems can be prevented by the school community

• IAQ problems can often be resolved using the skills of school staff

• The expenditures and effort to prevent most IAQ problems is a fraction of that required to solve problems once they develop.

What is CSIERT?

 In Connecticut, a consortium of 23 agencies and organizations formed the Connecticut School Indoor Environment Resource Team (CSIERT) in 1999. This group, with leadership from the CT Department of Public Health, assists schools and school districts with implementing and sustaining the EPA IAQ Tools for Schools (TfS) program throughout the state. Since 2000, TfS has been implemented in over 950 schools across the state.

Does Your School District Have An Active Tools for Schools Program?

click here for CT Tools for Schools map: 

CT School Districts with Tools for Schools   

* Contact the CT Department of Public Health at 860-509-7740 for more information

about your school district