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For several years now, there has been an increasing amount of focus on the air quality and health of our public buildings, especially those in which children spent long periods of time - like our public schools. Health Inspectors all across North American are finding that as these buildings age, they become breeding grounds for molds, repositories for dust, pollen and other airborne allergens and airtight enclosures for carbon man- and dioxides.
A sharp increase in the rate of illness for persons forced to spend a lengthy period of time within these buildings, day in and day out, has also come to the attention of many Workers Health and Compensation Organizations. Health issues which were formerly ascribed to poor personal health, the closeness of community within the building, or the virulence of circulating viruses are now be placed squarely back where they belong - on contaminants and allergens in the environment.
If a child suffers from frequent cold like symptoms, especially if those symptoms clear up when the child is not at school, then it is time to suspect that the “cold” is really an allergic reaction to something in the building. Similarly, a child who is contained and well-behaved at home, but willful, disobedient and unable to focus at school, may also be suffering from a reaction to allergens. Even moody or seemingly depressed children could actually be exhibiting symptoms of inhalant or environmental allergy. Many symptoms have been identified and it might take some time for you, working with your alleopathic or naturopathic doctor, to finally isolate exactly what the irritant is. The following are some of the possibilities.
1. Dust (and dust mites built up in the carpet): No matter how good the janitorial staff of the school building is, dust, bits of dead skin, hair particles and other microscopic contaminants filter down through the industrial carpet and onto the underlay and concrete beneath. No vacuum can remove them, and even commercial rug cleaners cannot remove them all. In junior and senior high schools, even science labs are sometimes carpeted and as you can imagine, ingredients in experiments often find their way onto the floor.
2. Chemicals. Chemicals in the schools can pose serious hazards for children and adults of any age, but are especially of concern for the primary grades. In this early grades, children are often called upon to sit upon the flooring and are that much nearer to the floor treatments, soaps, bleaches and cleansers used to maintain cleanliness in the school. Bleach mixtures are frequently used to spray desks and table tops to reduce germs and these compounds are also potential environmental hazards for the intolerant or allergic child. Ideally, schools are required to keep a fact sheet on all chemicals in use in the school, and you would be surprised at what some of the recommended safety options are for those chemicals. Something that janitorial staff would not dream of touching without gloves and a breathing apparatus leave residue in the carpeting for our young children who must breathe them in - unprotected, 9 or 10 months of the year.
3. Molds. Many different varieties of mold thrive in school buildings. One of the most common is the mold from which penicillin antibiotics are derived, and as with all molds, at propagation time, this fungus gives off spores. If a child is allergic or sensitive to ingested penicillin, good chance they might also react to inhaling it - even in an unrefined state. Many school districts are finding that temporary buildings (sometimes referred to as portables) are especially prone to mold build-up in between the walls and this type of mold is not even visible to the naked eye. As well, if the building has had any kind of leak in the roof, the space between the roof and the ceiling will have mold and mildew which adversely affects many people. Most districts freely admit that they do not have the financial wherewithal to clean up these toxins and dismiss the dangers out of hand.
4. Animal danders, urine and feces: Many schools, especially primary grades, keep small mammals as class pets. It has been known for some time that certain individuals are not able to tolerate the dander given off by the animals, and this can be the cause for rhinitis (a runny nose with a clear discharge) or sinusitis (frequent or chronic sinus infections). As well, small mammals are often keep in cages with cedar or pine shavings for their bedding and trees are a well-known source of reaction in many people. Even the ammonia given off by the urine of the animal may cause a problem for sensitive children.
5. Personal Care and Hygiene Products: We are a people who love scent. We have scented soap and scented shampoo; scented deodorant and scented powder. Many of us freshen our homes with potpourri, fragranced candles, incense and air fresheners. These products are often worn or used without thought and while many school districts are now requiring that staff do not wear perfume or other scented products to school in an effort to recognize the existence of allergies in students and co-workers alike, districts do not have the same control over students. This becomes an increasingly intense problem as youths enter in their teen years and become focused on attracting the opposite sex. Cosmetics also can contain scents and these can contribute to the allergic response, not so much for the wearer, but for those who come in contact with them. The chemical propellants found in hairsprays, gels and other fixatives can also be a hazard for allergic children and adults.
6. Poor Air Exchange Rates: While not exactly a cause of allergic reaction and environmental sickness in staff and students, the air-tightness of many of our buildings is leading to a problem whereby those who are sensitive to airborne allergens are stuck indoors without fresh air. Many schools have no opening windows, and the air exchange units are unable to handle the demand for refreshened air. It may even become necessary for some schools to have filters and dehumidifiers/humidifiers built into their air systems. Schools who have forced air heating should consider putting good industrial strength hepa filters on the heating systems and find some way of dehumidifying those classrooms which need it, while adding humidity in those which are too dry.
So what can the parent of a sensitive child do to help their child cope in an environment which may, at first glance, seem like a serious health hazard. Short of homeschooling the child, the option lies squarely in the realm of advocating and educating those with power in the districts. Because the increase in allergy sufferers has not only affected the students, but also the teaching staff, most administrators will know someone who suffers from allergies and will be able to understand where the problem lies. What they cannot do is produce money out of the hat for the clean-up and up-grading that is required and this is where parent lobbies will play a major role. If you have a child who is allergic to his school, you probably are not alone, and talking to others will raise awareness of the need to environmental clean-up within the system of buildings where our most precious resource is currently suffering - usually in silence.
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