In a 1995 report to Congress the GAO estimated that 14 million students attend schools needing extensive repair or replacement, and that about half of all schools reported at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition - a situation that affects over 20 million school children.
Most schools have occupancy rates approximately four times that of office buildings.
Malfunctioning HVAC systems are often associated with mold and mildew problems in buildings. Table of Contents Workplaces Asthma is the number 1 occupational lung disease and contributes to over 1,600 deaths each year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the largest source of IAQ contamination is microbiological contamination. Microbiological contamination can cause a wide variety of physical conditions from headaches and nausea to even death in the most extreme cases. Perhaps the most widely known form of microbiological contamination is Legionella.