Exposure to outdoor air pollution and its effects on human health have been of significant concern to the citizens of the United States since the early part of the 20 th Century. This is surprising since people in this country spend most of their time indoors. Furthermore, concentrations of certain important pollutants may be significantly higher indoors than outdoors as a result of the many sources of these pollutants indoors. The IAQ of schools is especially important for a number of reasons.
Young children tend to be more sensitive than adults to irritating air contaminants.
There is an increased risk of asthma episodes among children, due to elevated levels of agents found in indoor air that are capable of triggering asthma attacks. Symptoms of exposure to indoor air pollutants reduce students' and teachers' ability to concentrate, impairing the overall teaching and learning experience. When serious IAQ problems develop in a school, parents want immediate action to solve the problem. Under this pressure, school officials and the consultants they hire may not be able to identify correctly the fundamental reasons for the problem, resulting in inappropriate advice on solutions. School districts often have limited funds for proper preventive maintenance in the mistaken belief that this will reduce their operating and maintenance costs.