Air Pollution Monitoring in Schools
Air pollution is a major concern for many urban schools and childcare centers, especially those located near a major road or industrial pollution source.
Air pollution and children's health
UNICEF and WHO cite research that shows young lungs are particularly susceptible to air pollution. Overexposure to pollutants in childhood can lead to permanent respiratory health issues, such as asthma and lung cancer.
As a result, organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the British Lung Foundation have issued guidance to schools in an effort to help manage the problem and raise awareness of risks.
Why monitor air pollution at schools?
As awareness grows, so too does the pressure on schools to come up with an effective and coordinated response. Community air quality monitoring projects are an effective place to start. Reliable measurement is necessary for understanding the exposure risks, along with the effectiveness of mitigation strategies.
Schools may choose to get air quality information from government-operated monitoring stations. However, these stations can be many miles away, and unrepresentative of local pollution sources and micro-climate effects. They often fail to report minute-by-minute changes or provide immediate alerts if pollution levels suddenly rise. Relying on government-produced air quality information may result in an inaccurate picture of air quality in schools.
Forward-thinking schools see air pollution monitoring at the point of exposure (POE) as an opportunity to educate and protect young lives.
Opportunity to educate
STEM subjects and environmental awareness
Providing children with the opportunity to understand air pollution in the field gives them hands-on experience with scientific tools. It combines a couple of things most schools want to see more of in their curriculum: STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and environmental stewardship.
Teaching children about air pollution helps them to realize the environment is central to life on earth. The air is a resource we all share and must be taken care of. What we do here can affect the lives of people over there. These concepts encourage a sense of global citizenship and empower children to accept that responsibility.
Video Caption: See how this U.S. school is using Aeroqual monitors to educate
Real-time air pollution monitors
To get started you need an air pollution monitor that can reliably and accurately measure and report real-time changes in pollution levels.
Portable monitors are a great tool for education as they’re super easy for students to use and they report big numbers on an LCD screen. You can use them to check pollution hot spots, such as school drop-offs.
We also have indoor and outdoor air quality testing kits. These kits feature a portable monitor and are a great way to educate students about different types of air pollutants, such as ozone, particulate matter, and nitrogen dioxide, and how they impact people and the environment. Air quality has been proven to impact learning outcomes, with healthy ventilation and CO2 monitors in schools shown to increase productivity, focus, and overall health.
If you’re not sure which air monitor would be best for your school, please tell us about your requirements and we’ll guide you toward the right product.
Saint Gerald Catholic School
Saint Gerald Catholic School, located in Ralston, was founded in 1959. The school prides itself on providing a strong faith-filled environment and is an accredited school with high academic standards.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Agency (MAPA) is a regional Council of Governments. They bring local and regional officials together with citizens in Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa to connect and plan with them. MAPA helps member governments to address regional problems that may cross jurisdictional boundaries, including air quality. MAPA provided Saint Gerald School with the use of Aeroqual’s Series 500 Ozone Monitors free of charge, as part of its Little Steps Big Impact ozone awareness and education campaign. Read the case study.
Trusted by industry and educators worldwide
Aeroqual’s air pollution monitors are designed for ease of use and built on a solid scientific foundation. Every monitor is rigorously calibrated at Aeroqual’s laboratory using scientific grade calibration equipment. Our monitors are used by experts in the field, such as the US EPA and have been used everywhere from the Gobi Desert to Antarctica.
Here are a few of the schools that use our equipment:
Laurel Hall School (Los Angeles)
Cognita Schools (London)
United Nations International School (Hanoi)
English Schools Foundation (Hong Kong)
Concordia International School (Hanoi)
Benefits
Accurate & Reliable Measurement
Industry-leading sensor technology provides data you can trust
Good Value
Cost effective compared to expensive monitors + educational discount
Monitor Key Urban Pollutants
Measure the common pollutants impacting communities
Resources
Blog - Indoor
CO2 Monitors for Schools: How Air Monitoring and Ventilation Create Healthy Classrooms
Blog - Community
Air pollution in schools – how air quality monitoring can be used to protect and educate
Case Study - Communities
Portable Ozone Monitoring Solutions Build Awareness, Create Educational Opportunities
Air pollution education
Help educate and protect the health and safety of children from air pollution in schools. Get in touch and we’ll help you build out the perfect air monitoring solution.