Improving Air Quality to Reduce Illness Poor indoor air quality
(IAQ) is consistently listed as one of the top five
environmental risks by the Environmental Protection Agency
Science Advisory Board and the National Resources Defense
Council (EPA, 2000; Mott, 1997). Levels of indoor air pollutants
are often up to 100 times higher than those found outside (EPA,
2000). Schools and childcare programs are especially susceptible
to poor air quality due to having a greater concentration of
people per square foot than other buildings. In addition, the
age of buildings can contribute to poor air circulation. For
example, studies conducted in American schools reveal that
15,000 schools suffer from IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) problems.
This affects one in five schoolchildren (General Accounting
Office, 1995; Schneider, 2002). Children who are from racial
minority groups and/or from families who are low income are
disproportionately affected by poor air quality since they often
are in home and school environments with high