Has your kid been coming home with frequent headaches after school? Do they cough or wheeze on school days, but seem perfectly fine over the weekend? All this might be more than a coincidence. The real issue could be the air quality in their classroom. 

Classrooms pack dozens of kids into a single enclosed space - often with four times more people per square foot than in a typical office. Without proper ventilation and checks, indoor air pollutants can accumulate quickly, posing health risks. 

In this article, we discuss why monitoring classroom air quality is essential, how it can affect students' health, and how to improve it.  

Why is Indoor Air Quality in Classrooms Important?

Did you know that asthma is the leading cause of school absence among children ages 5-17, resulting in 13.8 million lost school days?

This is what the American Lung Association estimates. And, one of the main triggers is the classroom. 

Children tend to breathe faster than adults. They take in more air relative to their body weight. This means that when the air inside a classroom is polluted, their exposure to harmful pollutants is higher than that of adults. 

The EPA estimates that about half of U.S. schools have problems related to indoor air quality. 

So, poor classroom air quality isn’t an isolated problem confined to some schools. 

Poor classroom air quality isn’t just about irritation, coughs, and allergies either. It goes much deeper, impacting your kid’s lungs, brain, and overall development.

When a child inhales polluted air, microscopic particles like PM2.5 and gases like VOCs and carbon dioxide enter their respiratory system. This exposure can impact a child’s:

• Respiratory Health: Leading to asthma, coughs, and reduced lung growth.
• Cognitive Health: Poor memory, drowsiness, and poor performance 
• Immune System: Weakened immunity system, more risks of infection, and higher absenteeism.
• Long-Term Health: Higher risk of heart and lung diseases

What Are the Common Indoor Air Quality Pollutants in Classrooms?

Here’s a list of the common classroom air pollutants and their impact on the health of kids:

According to the EPA, students in classrooms with better ventilation and cleaner indoor air tend to score higher on standardized tests compared to those in poorly ventilated, polluted environments.

In fact, studies also show that schools with a good air quality have lower daily absenteeism. That’s because kids fall sick less often and recover faster.

Understanding the Classroom Air Quality Challenges in Schools 

So, what impacts a classroom’s air quality? The answer is many things. Here’s a list of some common factors affecting classroom air quality:

• Location: If the school is near a pollution source, such as a factory or highway, outdoor pollutants from these sources can enter the classroom, leading to poor indoor air quality.
• Temperature: When temperatures rise, the concentration of CO2 released by each person also increases. With so many students in an enclosed space, naturally, classroom air quality deteriorates. 
• Humidity: Various types of bacteria and viruses, as well as mold, thrive in high-humidity environments.
• Outdated Buildings Causing Poor Ventilation: Many school buildings are old and prioritize insulation over ventilation. With insulation trapping air indoors, CO2 and other pollutants can accumulate in the classroom.
• High Classroom Occupancy: The average classroom occupancy in the U.S. can reach up to 40 students. With that many kids in a single room, CO2 levels can reach harmful levels in a few hours.
• Old HVAC Systems: Most schools still use outdated HVAC systems that cannot ventilate properly. In fact, according to a 2020 GAO report, about 36,000 public schools in the U.S. needed to update their HVAC systems.
• Use of Cleaning Chemicals: Certain cleaning chemicals may contain VOCs and other pollutants that can be harmful to kids with asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Steps to Improve Classroom Air Quality

Here are a few effective steps that can be taken to improve classroom air quality:

• Monitor Air Quality in Real-Time: Schools can install wireless battery-operated indoor air quality monitors that track pollutants such as PM2.5, CO2, and VOCs. If the budget is limited, they can contact the EPA’s regional office to borrow equipment.
• Upgrade and Maintain HVACs: Regular cleaning, filter change, and inspection of the HVAC system can also help. Schools may consider upgrading to systems with reliable HEPA filters for better results.
• Improve Ventilation: Opening windows for at least 10 minutes daily, using exhaust fans, and installing energy recovery ventilators in schools can help bring in fresh air and reduce indoor air pollutant concentrations.
• Check Sources of Indoor Pollutants: Schools can switch to low-VOC cleaning products, art supplies, and lab materials.

Where to Begin: How Can Classroom Air Testing Help?

Before schools start spending money on air quality improvements, it is important to first understand the current condition of the classroom air. That’s where classroom air quality testing comes into the picture.

There are two ways of doing this:

• Indoor Air Quality Monitors

As discussed earlier, these battery-operated devices can be placed in classrooms for real-time monitoring. Since air quality varies with season, time of day, and the number of occupants, these monitors work well for providing real-time updates.

• Professional Air Quality Testing

Professional air quality testing helps schools get accurate results they can trust. It is especially recommended in classrooms with issues such as dampness, limited ventilation, peeling paint, etc. All this can be signs of mold, which professional testing can detect better.

Moreover, with professional air quality testing, schools get high-level equipment-based testing for VOCs, mold, formaldehyde, and particulate matter. The detailed reports include test findings and actionable next steps, so schools know exactly what to do.

Call InHaus Lab, and we’ll get you a quote in 30 minutes.

Make Your Child’s Classroom Air Quality a Priority Today

To protect your child’s health and welfare, their classroom air quality must be a priority - something this Reddit thread talks about in detail. Your kid spends 6-8 hours in school daily, which means what they breathe in has a lasting impact on how they feel and perform. 

So what can you do?  You can:

• Check if your state or local jurisdiction has implemented any types of classroom air quality monitoring requirements
• Ask your child’s school administration about ventilation and air testing practices 
• Advocate for periodic professional air quality testing 

For science-backed air quality testing services that give you results you can trust, you can rely on InHaus Lab. Our comprehensive testing is currently available in Aspen and Minneapolis, but we are gearing up to bring the best to other cities soon. For science-backed air quality testing services that give you results you can trust, you can rely on InHaus Lab. Our comprehensive testing is currently available in Aspen and Minneapolis, but we are gearing up to bring the best to other cities soon. 

Classroom Air Quality FAQs

1. How does poor classroom air quality impact students’ health and well-being?

Poor classroom air quality can cause respiratory issues, including asthma and bronchitis. Mold and VOCs can cause drowsiness and headaches. Higher CO2 levels can also impact memory, learning, and cognitive function. Air pollutants can trigger allergies, leading to more absenteeism. 

2. What should a classroom air quality monitor detect in 2026?

An ideal IAQ sensor should detect:

• Carbon dioxide
• PM2.5 and PM1.0
• Carbon monoxide
• Nitrogen dioxide
• VOCs
• Temperature and humidity

3. How does improved classroom air quality support performance and learning?

Improved classroom air quality helps improve concentration and engagement. Studies also show that students perform better in classrooms with good ventilation. Additionally, lower pollution levels may lead to fewer sick days and better attendance, thereby improving overall learning and performance. 

4. What are the main pollutants affecting classroom air quality?

Main pollutants affecting classroom air quality include carbon dioxide, mold, PM2.5 particles, VOCs, and bacteria and viruses. These may originate from poor ventilation, use of high-VOC cleaning solutions, temperature and humidity build-up, and outdated HVAC systems.

5. What can you do as a parent for better classroom air quality?

As a parent, you can ask the school about their classroom air quality maintenance practices, how often they test, and the IAQ testing data. 

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References:

• EPA, Take Action to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools
• American Lung Association
• GAO
• EPA, How Does Indoor Air Quality Impact Student Health and Academic Performance 
• EPA, Take Action to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Schools
• American Lung Association
• GAO
• EPA, How Does Indoor Air Quality Impact Student Health and Academic Performance