oor air
quality is cited as a major factor in the quadrupling of childhood
asthma rates since the 1970's. It is also a particular concern in many
schools around the province. Substances such as volatile organic
compounds (VOCs), tobacco smoke, pesticides, carbon dioxide, nitrogen
oxides, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, mold, allergens, radon, mercury
and dust have turned some schools into a breeding ground for asthma and
poor examples of a safe and environmentally friendly venue.
It is for these reasons that the New Brunswick Lung Association has
developed its Healthy School Program. Lung Association staff receive
numerous calls and inquiries about environmental school problems from
parents, teachers and administrators. New Brunswick has experienced a
number of school closures around the province due mostly to air quality
problems.
The overall aim of the project is to treat the school as a whole,
improving both its outdoor and indoor environments, to ensure the school
is a place where human activities enhance rather than degrade the
natural setting, and where the quality of the built environment
approaches that of the natural setting. The project focuses on
infrastructure developments and involves all school partners: students,
teachers, school administrators, custodians, school bus drivers and
parents.
This two-year initiative will also strive to utilize community-based
social marketing techniques to identify materials and strategies that
will not only increase people's understanding and identification of
actual and potential environmental problems, but will motivate them to
solve problems, and maintain and improve their existing environment.
The Healthy School Program plans to develop a comprehensive Tool Kit
to connect people's concern with their health and air quality, to other
environment initiatives, such as energy efficiency, waste reduction,
sustainable transportation methods and green landscaping in a public
school setting.
In its first year, the project will focus on the development and test
piloting of materials and strategies that will be used to enhance a
school's infrastructure in one school in the Fredericton area. Priestman
Street Elementary School has been selected for the pilot project.
Successful materials and proven strategies will then be developed into a
comprehensive Tool Kit in a hard copy and an online format.
Year two of the project will involve a province-wide implementation
program involving regional workshops, along with an on-line "Ask An
Expert" and 1-800 assistance programs. Additionally, an intensive
media campaign will be carried out to promote project initiatives. The
Tool Kit test piloted in Year One will help other schools to audit,
improve and monitor their environments. All materials will be made
available in both official languages. Through the regional workshops, a
minimum of 20 schools will be closely guided and encouraged to maintain
a "healthy school".
In order to improve the outdoor and indoor environments of schools,
custodians, teachers, students, parents and administrators need to fully
understand their indoor and outdoor environments. There is a need for a
common sense guide designed to help school partners prevent and solve
the majority of outdoor and indoor environmental health problems with
minimal cost and involvement. Armed with good, solid information, school
partners should be able to rectify most problems and maintain a healthy
environment. *
(photo: NB Lung Association)
