Poor air quality in schools ‘putting children’s health at risk’

Old buildings and badly maintained air conditioning are behind the poor air quality recorded in schools across the country, potentially putting children’s health at risk.

Experts blamed outdated construction techniques, a lack of effective insulation and the fact that some schools overused chemicals to clean classrooms and hallways.

Bad air quality can cause respiratory problems, with implications for children’s attention spans and attendance rates.

“The old building stock is a problem not only in the UAE but all over the GCC,” said Nada Chami, a manager at the French construction company Saint-Gobain.

“Older buildings were constructed prior to air-quality regulations, with 70 to 85 per cent of them not insulated effectively.

“This means their air tightness is poor, which can allow pollutants to come through.”

The warnings came as architects, engineers and school management teams met in Dubai to discuss ways to improve building design.

Calling for a government programme to upgrade old school buildings, Ms Chami said it was vital new schools were given proper advice when selecting suitable building materials.

She also said stronger enforcement measures were required to check air quality.

“Regulations are there but the implementation and enforcement of these is poor,” she said. “Children are more sensitive to low indoor air quality. They are easily affected by anything that can pollute their respiratory system, while teachers can also suffer.

“In some cases the ventilation systems [in schools] aren’t adequate and are not providing enough clean oxygen. If you don’t clean these systems they will have a bad impact.

“Sometimes, children also leave doors and windows open, which can lead to poor quality air entering the building.”

Hala Yousef, head of sustainability at Cundall, an international design consultancy, agreed that poor maintenance and cleaning practices were damaging schools’ air quality.

She recommended that dependence on chemical cleaning agents be reduced, that air-conditioning units be overhauled and that staff had access to the latest and most effective vacuum cleaners.

“Cleaning the space is important,” she said. “[And] we need regulations. We have more and more information available that shows the benefits of good air quality, but more controls need to be implemented.

“Once it is on their [school’s] agenda, they can tell their contractor who can increase ventilation and add a good filter.

“Existing schools should get a certain time to make these changes.”

Lora Shrake, director of the Emirates Green Building Council, said schools needed to start measuring their air quality.

“By raising awareness we can emphasise the importance of retrofitting older buildings,” she said. Some schools in the UAE, however, already have such checks in place.

Taaleem Schools in Dubai said they conducted indoor air-quality tests as a matter of routine.

“We are actively seeking collaboration with local universities to further enhance the research being conducted,” Sam Truman, head of projects and facilities at Taaleem Schools, said. “This research will lead to usable data that will enable schools to evaluate the effects of air quality on student performance and sickness.”

“We will also seek to investigate, with the support of research universities, costeffective solutions that could be made available to all schools in the UAE, not just our own.”

In 2012, a study of air quality in four government schools found it to be poor. The study, by the British University in Dubai, measured soot particles in classroom air.

While guidelines suggested a maximum of 15 milligrams per cubic metre, the study found between 200mg and 250mg.

Bad air quality can cause respiratory problems, with implications for children’s attention spans and attendance rates