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Does your child’s school or child care center have high quality indoor air?  Has it eliminated lead?  Learning and playing is the most important thing.  Don’t let health issues get in the way. 

Key pollutants to watch out for:

Indoor air pollution
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one half of the schools in the United States have problems related to poor quality of indoor air.  Indoor air pollution is related to the presence of dirt, moisture, and warmth.  Dirt, moisture, and warmth lead to the presence of molds and mildew, the presence of insects and vermin (which, in turn, produce allergic reactions and/or need for pesticides), and problems with poor ventilation.  Pesticides can cause brain damage.  Molds and allergies contribute to the onset of asthma as well as increase the severity of asthma attacks.  Overall, indoor air pollution causes upper respiratory track infections.  These infections often act like or lead to the common cold, which make learning difficult because of general physical discomfort.  Ask about the indoor air pollution strategy of your child’s schools and child care facilities.  The EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit can be found at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/tools4s2.html.

Radon
Radon is a radioactive, odorless, colorless gas. It forms naturally in the ground, and it can seep into buildings through cracks in foundations and floors and through pipelines. People who are exposed to radon have a greater risk of developing lung cancer later on, especially those who are also either smokers or often exposed to second hand smoke. Thousands of people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. High levels of radon have been found in many schools across the country. In fact, nearly one in five schools have at least one classroom with a high radon level. Therefore, the EPA advises that all schools be tested for radon. The testing is simple and inexpensive, and radon problems, once found, can be fixed easily. In fact, the EPA has published a free guide for schools to help them test for and get rid of radon. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/iaq/radon/pubs/schoolrn.html or call your state radon office, available at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/contacts.html.

Lead
Many schools and other facilities have replaced old paint containing lead and plumbing since the public awareness campaigns about lead during the 1980s and 1990s.  Confirm that your child’s school has done so, too.  Exposure to lead often harms children’s abilities to learn.  It can result in damage to the brain, kidneys, blood, central nervous system, and reproductive system. Children are particularly sensitive to the long-term effects of lead, including slowed mental development and reduced growth. 

Tobacco smoke
Make certain that all places where your child spends a significant amount of time, such as daycare or baby-sitters' houses have a NON-smoking policy.  The more a child is exposed to tobacco smoke, the more the child gets sick and could require hospitalization.  Some serious illnesses include asthma, pneumonia, and even SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), as well as an increase in likelihood of lung cancer and coronary heart disease later in life.