1 Mansel A Nelson Tribal Environmental Education Outreach Program Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Northern Arizona University nau.edu/iaqtc

2 Indoor Air in Tribal Schools nau.edu/iaqtc Indoor Air Quality Assessment at Tohono O’Odham IAQ in Tribal Schools EPA IAQ Tools for Schools Open Airways ITEP Resources

3 nau.edu/iaqtc Eye, nose, and throat irritation Coughing, sneezing, and wheezing Asthma attacks Headaches Fatigue Aggravated allergies and asthma Respiratory infections What are common symptoms indicating IAQ issues in schools? Toronto Sun

4 nau.edu/iaqtc Many older buildings don’t have active ventilation Schools with HVAC may reduce fresh air intake to conserve energy (and money) Mold (really a moisture issue) Back-logged Maintenance Shortage of custodial staff Obsolete cleaning practices What are common concerns in tribal schools?

5 What are pollutant sources in tribal schools? People - everyone is a source of pollutants Personal care products Students & staff with communicable diseases Radon Classroom pets Excess moisture leading to mold Dry-erase markers and chalk Cleaning materials Odors from paint, caulk, and adhesives Insects and other pests Odors from trash Outdoor pollutants nau.edu/iaqtc

6 Promote a healthy learning environment at your school to reduce absenteeism, improve test scores and enhance student and staff productivity. Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Schools nau.edu/iaqtc

7 What is the EPA IAQ TfS Program? nau.edu/iaqtc IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit l G uides & Check lists for: IAQ Coordinator Teachers Administrators Maintenance staff Health staff Video Collection: Action plan Ventilation basics Walk through guide

8 Guides and Checklists nau.edu/iaqtc

9 Key Drivers 1. Organize: Get buy in from school leadership Create a Team & Coordinator 2. Assess: Do initial school walk-through Listen to occupants 3. Plan: Prioritize actions Develop goals nau.edu/iaqtc Framework for IAQ TfS 4. Act: Education of occupants 5. Evaluate: Measure impacts Return on Investment (ROI) 6. Communicate: Transparent Share results

10 nau.edu/iaqtc Framework for IAQ TfS Technical Solutions Quality HVAC Control Moisture/Mold Integrated Pest Management Effective Cleaning/Maintenance Materials Selection Aggressive Source Control Technical Solutions Quality HVAC Control Moisture/Mold Integrated Pest Management Effective Cleaning/Maintenance Materials Selection Aggressive Source Control

11 What else could we consider? Measurements Smoke Stick to measure air movement Carbon Dioxide monitor to measure ventilation Carbon monoxide monitor Moisture meters nau.edu/iaqtc

12 Student Involvement nau.edu/iaqtc Curricular activities Assessment Feedback Communication Curricular Resources Hydroville – IAQ Lesson Plans – understanding-the-indoor.htmlwww.neahin.org/educator-resources/ understanding-the-indoor.html Green Ribbon Schools -

13 Open Airways for Schools nau.edu/iaqtc Provided by American Lung Association Educates and empowers children for asthma self- management. You can facilitate Open Airways instruction in tribal schools Become an instructor OR Connect instructors with schools airways/open-airways-for-schools-1.html

14 Conducting Building Assessments nau.edu/iaqtc Provided by Northwest Clean Air Agency Resources and ideas for building assessments Information on mold in schools Measurements in schools Conducting walk-throughs

15 More Information nau.edu/iaqtc EPA Healthy School Environments EPA Tools for Schools – American Lung Association – Healthy Schools Network – OSHA - CDC Assessment