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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools (IAQ TfS) Program to help schools prevent, identify, and resolve their IAQ problems. This publication describes the program and its advantages, explaining that through simple, low-cost measures, schools can: reduce IAQ-related health risks and triggers for asthma, identify sources of mold, improve comfort and performance levels, avoid costly repairs, avoid negative publicity and loss of parent and community trust, and avoid liability problems. The publication offers an overview of IAQ issues, offers examples of successful school efforts, and presents action items. (Contains 25 references.) (EV)

This document describes how to investigate and evaluate moisture and mold problems in educational facilities, and presents the key steps for implementing a remediation plan. A checklist is provided for conducting mold remediation efforts along with a resource list of helpful organizations and governmental agencies. Appendices contain a glossary, an educational section on molds, and how communication with building occupants aids in mold eradication efforts. (Contains 19 references.) (GR)

This fact sheet details important information on Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in school buildings, problems associated with IAQ, and various prevention and problem-solving strategies. Most people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, therefore the Environmental Protection Agency ranks IAQ in the top four environmental risks to the public. The consequences surrounding poor IAQ affect not only the health and productivity of students and staff but also the physical school plant. Four factors affecting IAQ are: sources of indoor pollutants; the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC); pollutant pathways; and the building occupants. Six basic control strategies for lowering concentrations of indoor air pollutants include (1) removing, substituting, and encapsulating the source; (2) the effective use of local exhaust; (3) ventilation to dilute contaminated air; (4) exposure control using the principles of time and location use; (5) cleaning the air by filtration; and (6) education to help reduce personal exposure. Diagnosing indoor air quality problems involves identifying short-term symptoms typically associated with colds, flu, and allergies. Long-term symptoms such as cancer are more difficult to identify. Preventive indoor air programs need to be established to minimize students and staff exposure to pollutants. This fact sheet makes reference to an "EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit" (which includes a checklist, guide, problem-solving wheel, fact sheet, sample memo, and sample policies) and recommends obtaining the kit in the event symptoms of indoor air pollutants related to the school environment are experienced. (RE)

This document presents the process of radon diagnostics and mitigation in schools to help educators determine the best way to reduce elevated radon levels found in a school. The guidebook is designed to guide school leaders through the process of measuring radon levels, selecting the best mitigation strategy, and directing the efforts of a multidisciplinary team in improving the overall indoor-air quality of the school. The book focuses on using a team approach, because effective radon mitigation requires specialized knowledge in several disciplines. EPA has extensively researched two highly successful radon-control strategies: (1) mitigation using active soil depressurization (ASD); and (2) mitigation using the school's ventilation system. Chapters 1 and 2 review what radon is, why it is a concern, and the mechanisms by which it enters and accumulates in a building. Chapters 3 and 4 outline the initial investigation process, in which the condition of the ventilation system is examined to determine whether restoring the ventilation to its intended operating condition could reduce radon levels to below the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) action level. The option of retesting is discussed in the fifth chapter. Chapter 6 discusses the detailed investigation phase that may be necessary if premitigation levels are too high or improving the ventilation system did not sufficiently reduce radon levels. Active subslab depressurization systems are described in chapter 7. The eighth and ninth chapters outline the process of making postmitigation measurements and discuss steps to ensure the long-term effectiveness of the mitigation strategy. Information regarding building codes and worker protection is offered in chapter 10. One table and 21 figures are included. Appendices contain a glossary and list of acronyms, a list of resource organizations, references, metric conversion factors, mitigation cost information, and two case studies based on the experience of EPA's research team. (LMI)