Grantee Research Project Results
2015 Progress Report: Environmental Quality, Health and Learning in Conventional and High Performance School Buildings
EPA Grant Number: R835637Title: Environmental Quality, Health and Learning in Conventional and High Performance School Buildings
Investigators: Batterman, Stuart A. , McCaughtry, Nathan A , Mukherjee, Bhramar , Sommers, Cheryl L , Thun, Geoffrey , Wineman, Jean
Current Investigators: Batterman, Stuart A. , Somers, Cheryl L , McCaughtry, Nate
Institution: University of Michigan , Wayne State University
Current Institution: Wayne State University , University of Michigan
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: November 20, 2014 through November 19, 2018 (Extended to November 19, 2019)
Project Period Covered by this Report: November 20, 2014 through November 19,2015
Project Amount: $1,000,000
RFA: Healthy Schools: Environmental Factors, Children’s Health and Performance, and Sustainable Building Practices (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Endocrine Disruptors , Human Health
Objective:
The proposed research plan has three goals: (1) increasing our understanding of the relationship between environmental factors and the health and academic performance of students, teachers and staff; (2) evaluating the use and effectiveness of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) measures used in high performance school buildings; and (3) promoting an understanding of the importance of IEQ in schools and IEQ targets for high performance buildings and informing the next generation of standards for the sustainable design of schools.
Progress Summary:
In year 1, we developed instruments, protocols, provided staff training, and recruited 37 schools to participate in phase 1. We then characterized IEQ parameters among a cross-section of 37 recently constructed elementary school buildings, balanced between high performance (LEED-certified and EnergyStar) buildings and similarly sized buildings located in the US Midwest. Characterizations include multiday measurements of key IEQ parameters in 4 classrooms in each school, e.g., ventilation and air exchange rates, carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), noise level, and teacher health and comfort surveys. We have completed comparisons of some outcomes among high performance and conventional buildings, including VOCs and ventilation rates. We have also selected a subset of buildings for use in the year 2 studies.
Future Activities:
The second phase will study a subset of buildings, classrooms, students and teachers selected from year 1, and will evaluate practical and potentially effective strategies to improve air quality and student performance, namely, ventilation rate changes and high performance air filtration. Parameters monitored will include IEQ, absenteeism, curriculum based measures (CBM) of academic performance, and cardio-respiratory measures of physical fitness. Later, we will examine energy, capital and operating cost implications of improved IEQ, and conduct engagement, education and outreach activities aimed at promoting the importance and understanding of IEQ on student health and performance
Journal Articles on this Report : 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format
| Other project views: | All 8 publications | 5 publications in selected types | All 5 journal articles |
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Batterman S. Review and extension of CO2-based methods to determine ventilation rates with application to school classrooms. International Journal of Environmental and Public Health Research 2017;14(2):145. |
R835637 (2015) R835637 (2016) R835637 (2017) |
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Batterman S, Su F-C, Wald A, Watkins F, Godwin C, Thun G. Ventilation rates in recently constructed U.S. school classrooms. Indoor Air 2017;27(5):880-890. |
R835637 (2015) R835637 (2016) R835637 (2017) R835637 (Final) |
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Zhong L, Su F-C, Batterman S. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in conventional and high performance school buildings in the U.S. International Journal of Environmental and Public Health Research 2017;14(1):100. |
R835637 (2015) R835637 (2016) R835637 (2017) |
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Supplemental Keywords:
children’s respiratory health, community partnership, school practice, mediators, particulates, surveys, test scores, attendance.Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.