The toxic schools where pollution is worse indoors
SOME pupils are being taught in classrooms where the air is so polluted it breaches global guidelines, a study has found.
In some cases pollution levels inside the schools were higher than outside as traffic fumes became trapped in the buildings, it said.
The study, which looked at five primary schools and a nursery in London, was commissioned by the capital’s mayor Sadiq Khan.
Researchers from University College London and Cambridge University looked at the levels of tiny particulate matter (PM) in the air inside the schools.
When classrooms were occupied, indoor levels were ‘consistently higher than outdoors’.
The report said its findings indicate that ‘annual personal exposure to PM in the classroom may be higher than World Health Organisation 2010 guidelines’.
‘In most classrooms, PM concentrations were above daily guideline values,’ it said. The study found that differences in pollution levels between classrooms depended on a range of factors, including building characteristics, design and maintenance.
A significant proportion of indoor air pollution was due to outdoor pollution getting inside.
Children are more vulnerable to airborne pollutants than adults not only because of their narrower airways, but also because they generally breathe more air per kilogram of body weight. ‘ The exposure of children’s developing lungs to air pollution can result in reduced lung function that persists through to adulthood, increasing susceptibility to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases,’ the report said.
The researchers also highlighted that Britain has the ‘highest prevalence of childhood asthma’ in Europe. A review of existing studies concluded that ‘children living or attending schools near high traffic density roads were exposed to higher levels of motor vehicle exhaust gases, and had higher incidence and prevalence of childhood asthma and wheeze’.
Friends of the Earth spokesman Oliver Hayes said: ‘Schools are supposed to be places that keep children safe, so news that deadly diesel fumes are drifting into classrooms is deeply worrying.
‘If we’re serious about protecting the health of our children, the Government should act swiftly to encourage people out of their cars by massively investing in affordable, green public transport, walking and cycling.’
He also called for tougher action against car makers ‘who continue to peddle polluting vehicles’.
Alison Cook, of the British Lung Foundation, said the Government should bring in ‘ new and safer legal limits for air pollution’, adding: ‘ Air pollution can stunt the growth of children’s lungs, and is linked to asthma and chronic chest problems later in life.’
In London, Mr Khan also announced a £1million fund to help the worst affected of 50 schools which were assessed for their air quality.
The mayor said he had implemented ‘ the most ambitious plans to tackle air pollution of any major city in the world’.
‘This includes cleaning up our bus and taxi fleets, bringing forward the introduction of the world’s first ultra-low emission zone and introducing the toxicity charge – T-Charge – for the oldest polluting vehicles in central London,’ he said.