Why Schools Need Air Quality Monitoring for Safer Learning
Imagine asking school students to run laps in a sports hall filled with smoke. Unthinkable, right? Yet every day, children are exposed to invisible air pollutants that can be just as harmful, even when the air looks clear. Localized and continuous air quality monitoring in schools is a must. Yet, many schools depend on broad AQI reports that may be sourced from distant locations or outdated, leaving them uninformed about immediate local air quality risks.
According to the 2024 State of Global Air report, air pollution contributed to 709,000 deaths for children under five. The deaths accounted for 15% of all global deaths in this age group. Several other studies show the profound and multi-faceted threat that poor air quality poses to the lifelong health of children and adolescents.
However, this risk can be significantly reduced through simple and localized air quality monitoring within school premises. By tracking real-time AQI, schools can take timely actions such as adjusting outdoor activities or improving ventilation to protect students and create healthier learning environments. This blog delves into why AQI monitoring in schools is crucial and how it can protect health, enhance learning, and support proactive interventions.
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Why Air Quality Monitoring Is Important
In Schools?
Children and adolescents lack the awareness or ability to reduce their exposure to air pollution. They do not have control over where they live or the schools they attend. They are unable to understand or respond to air quality information or visible pollution indicators. This makes them both highly exposed to air pollution and especially vulnerable.
Exposure to polluted air can have serious short- and long-term effects on children’s health and development. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds can aggravate asthma, trigger respiratory infections, and impair lung function. Long-term exposure is also linked to cognitive delays, reduced academic performance, and increased risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease later in life. Because their lungs and immune systems are still developing, children absorb more pollutants relative to their body weight than adults, making them more susceptible to damage. Poor air quality not only affects their physical health but can also lead to fatigue, poor concentration, and behavioral issues in the classroom.
While they will bear the long-term health impacts of today’s polluted air, they have little power to change their environment or protect themselves. Given that children spend nearly 18.5 percent of their time (or more) in school environments, these institutions become the second most influential environment in their overall development. Thus, it is critical to ensure that the air they breathe in school classrooms is clean and safe.
To highlight the issue, researchers from the University of Manchester found that cleaner air (lowering air pollution by just 20%) can improve a child’s working memory by 6%. It is equivalent to four extra weeks of learning per year.
The benefits of clean air are further underscored by data from the United States. The Clean Air Act regulations have been linked to 10,000 fewer asthma-related hospitalizations and 20 million fewer school absences among children aged 1 to 16.
These findings reinforce the urgent need for real-time air quality monitoring in schools.
However, many schools lack real-time IAQ monitoring, relying on outdoor air data that may not reflect the indoor environment. Monitoring and managing IAQ with localized sensors enables early detection of pollutants such as PM 2.5, PM 10, CO₂, and VOCs, helping school administrators take prompt actions to ensure a safe and healthy learning space.
3 Warning Signs Of Schools
Battling Poor Air Quality
Even if the air looks clear, harmful air pollutants may still be affecting the health and performance of students and staff. Here are three signs that indicate that a school’s air quality might be problematic:
1. Students Feel Worse at School Than Anywhere Else
If symptoms like coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, or fatigue show up during school hours and disappear elsewhere, it could signal poor indoor air quality.
- Increase in allergy-like symptoms during recess or PE
- Frequent complaints of tiredness or difficulty breathing
- Higher use of asthma inhalers during school hours
What It Means: Fine particles like PM2.5, PM10, and ground-level ozone could be present at harmful levels. It may also point to issues with your HVAC system or a lack of air filtration.
2. Health Complaints Coincide With HVAC Use
If students experience discomfort when heating or cooling systems turn on, the problem might be inside the ducts.
- Musty or moldy odors in classrooms
- Dust buildup around vents or on surfaces
- Coughing or irritation as the system activates
What It Means: Pollutants such as mold spores and dust may be circulating through poorly maintained HVAC systems.
3. Outdoor Activities Are Frequently Affected
Air quality directly influences physical activity and student safety during outdoor events.
- Students showing signs of breathlessness or chest tightness during sports
- Frequent changes to PE classes or canceled games due to pollution
What It Means: Without real-time, hyperlocal air quality monitoring, schools may struggle to make informed decisions about outdoor safety. Monitoring systems help adjust schedules and activities based on actual conditions, protecting students’ health.
Read More: Air Quality Monitoring In Industries – Improving Industrial Air Quality
While the signs may be apparent, it’s also important to examine the underlying causes. Several structural, environmental, and systemic factors contribute to poor air quality in schools.
Indoor Air Quality Challenges
for Schools
Despite growing awareness, many schools continue to face structural and environmental challenges that compromise indoor air quality. Below are some of the most pressing indoor air quality challenges commonly observed in school settings.
1. Old and Outdated School Buildings
Most school buildings were constructed decades ago, when pollution was not a pressing problem. Insulation was given more importance than ventilation and indoor air quality. For instance, a study found that naturally ventilated classrooms in India have variable and often inadequate air exchange rates. Air-conditioned classrooms tend to perform even worse, with ventilation levels falling below the standards set by BIS and ASHRAE. As a result, tightly sealed structures often trap air inside, causing a buildup of carbon dioxide and various VOCs (such as those found in cleaning products, art materials, and building supplies etc).
2. High Particulate Matter (PM) Levels
Multiple studies show that PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in Indian schools are often two to three times higher than permissible limits set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). For example, a survey by IIT Delhi found that schools and colleges in Delhi had the highest PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels among all building types surveyed, with concentrations two-and-a-half times above safe limits. PM levels spike during periods of high activity (before and after school, during breaks). They are strongly influenced by outdoor sources like traffic and crop burning, as well as indoor sources such as chalk dust and dust resuspension from furniture movement.
3. High Classroom Occupancy
High classroom occupancy in Indian schools leads to significantly elevated CO₂ levels, primarily due to the increased number of students exhaling carbon dioxide in confined spaces with limited ventilation. When CO₂ levels exceed 1,000 ppm, students may experience drowsiness, headaches, reduced concentration, and impaired cognitive performance. Levels above 2,000 ppm can cause more severe symptoms, such as fatigue and nausea. This compromised indoor air quality directly undermines the creation of an effective learning environment, severely hindering students’ ability to concentrate and potentially impacting their long-term academic outcomes.
4. HVAC Systems in Modern Schools
In modern schools, HVAC systems serve as the primary means of air ventilation and filtration. Despite this critical role, a significant number of these systems are simply not up to current needs. The scale of this challenge was highlighted in a 2020 U.S. Government Accountability Office report, which estimated that around 36,000 public schools across the country needed to either update or replace their HVAC infrastructure. The situation is similar in many schools globally, where limited funding, aging infrastructure, and lack of awareness contribute to inadequate HVAC performance.
Read More: Air Quality Monitoring At Mines & Quarries – Why Is It Important?
Despite the challenges, there are practical and impactful solutions schools can adopt to create a healthier indoor environment.
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6 Steps Schools Can Take
To Improve Air Quality
Here are six effective steps schools can take to improve indoor air quality and ensure safer, healthier classrooms:
1. Monitor Air Quality in Real Time
Installing a real-time air pollution monitoring system helps schools track levels of pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. These localized sensors provide accurate, up-to-date data, enabling school administrators to respond quickly to potential hazards and make informed decisions regarding ventilation, cleaning protocols, and student activities
2. Maintain and Upgrade HVAC Systems
Regular inspection, cleaning, and replacement of air filters in HVAC systems are essential for keeping indoor air clean. Schools should consider upgrading to modern systems that use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters or UV-C light purification to effectively capture and neutralize airborne contaminants, including bacteria and viruses.
3. Increase Ventilation
Improving natural and mechanical ventilation ensures a steady flow of fresh air indoors. Simple actions like opening windows and using exhaust fans can help reduce the concentration of indoor pollutants. Advanced systems with energy recovery ventilators (ERVs) can balance fresh air intake without losing thermal comfort.
4. Eliminate Pollution Sources Indoors
Many classroom materials, cleaning agents, and maintenance products release harmful chemicals into the air. Schools can reduce indoor pollution by switching to low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products, avoiding strong chemical cleaners, and ensuring proper storage and use of art supplies and lab materials.
5. Strategic Landscaping to Filter Outdoor Pollution
Green buffers such as trees and shrubs around the school campus can act as natural filters, trapping dust and pollutants before they enter the building. Planting vegetation near playgrounds, windows, and air intakes not only enhances the campus environment but also contributes to improved air quality indoors.
6. Install Pollution Display Boards and Raise Awareness
Installing digital AQI display boards in visible areas of the school helps inform students and staff about real-time air quality levels. These displays promote awareness and encourage precautionary measures during high pollution days. Schools can further enhance impact by integrating basic air quality education into lessons and encouraging student-led awareness activities.
To make informed decisions, schools need reliable monitoring tools. An ideal AQI monitor should track specific pollutants and environmental conditions that directly affect classroom air quality.
What Should An Ideal Air Quality Monitor
Detect In Schools?
Air quality monitoring in schools can provide hyperlocal insight into the specific air quality conditions where students learn. Here is a list of pollutants and associated parameters that an AQI sensor should be able to detect inside school promises.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO₂): CO₂ levels rise in crowded, poorly ventilated classrooms, affecting students’ concentration and cognitive function. Monitoring CO₂ helps ensure adequate ventilation.
- Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10): Fine and coarse particles can enter school buildings from outdoor sources like road dust, construction, and combustion. These particles can deeply penetrate the lungs and are linked to respiratory and cardiovascular problems.
- Carbon Monoxide (CO): This odorless, colorless gas can be dangerous even at low levels. It can find its way indoors from nearby external pollution sources. Early detection is crucial to prevent health risks.
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂): NO₂ is a common indoor pollutant, often originating from poorly maintained gas heaters or infiltrating from outdoor vehicle emissions and industrial activities. Prolonged exposure can irritate the respiratory system and trigger asthma.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): VOCs are released from cleaning products, paints, disinfectants, and classroom supplies. Indoor levels are often higher than outdoors and can cause headaches, irritation, and long-term health effects.
- Temperature and Humidity: Monitoring thermal comfort is key for student well-being and focus. Excessive heat or humidity can lead to discomfort, dehydration, and mold growth, while low humidity can dry out respiratory passages.
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Wrapping Up
The evidence is clear. Air pollution poses a serious threat to children’s health, cognitive development, and academic performance. From outdated infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms to rising levels of particulate matter and chemical pollutants, schools face a complex set of challenges when it comes to maintaining clean indoor air. However, there is a silver lining.
With simple, targeted interventions such as improving ventilation, maintaining HVAC systems, reducing indoor pollution sources, and incorporating strategic landscaping, schools can significantly improve indoor air quality. One of the most effective strategies is air quality monitoring in schools, which enables institutions to track environmental conditions in real time. By implementing real-time, hyperlocal air quality monitoring systems, schools can detect harmful pollutants early, make data-informed decisions, and create safer learning environments for students and staff.
Author
Soham Roy
Designer
Soumyajyoti
Designer
Umesh
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