CDN Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) / CDN Environmental Law Association
On Healthy Environments for Learning Day, environmental and child health advocates cite growing concern about indoor air quality in educational settings; Prominent national institutions issue urgent call for government action
The COVID-19 pandemic, smoke from raging wildfires, and extreme heat waves have intensified concerns among child health and environmental law experts about inadequate air quality in schools and child care settings.
With these and related problems on the rise, “it is imperative that governments and policymakers prioritize indoor air quality support programs” tailored to indoor spaces used by kids, according to a report published today by the Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) and the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
The report, which helps to mark this year’s national Healthy Environments for Learning Day (April 25), says the risk to children of harm from poor indoor air quality is higher than that of adults because:
- Child respiratory systems are still developing, making them more susceptible to the harmful effects of dust, mould, chemicals and other pollutants
- Children breathe at a faster rate, inhaling a greater volume of air relative to body weight, exacerbating harmful health effects from pollution, and
- Children often engage in physical activities that lead to deeper and more frequent breathing, enhance exposure to air pollutants
The report includes a nationwide scan of government responsibilities, actions, and indoor air quality (IAQ) funding programs.
Says CPCHE Executive Director Erica Phipps: “Despite significant legal authority at federal and provincial/territorial levels, our findings reveal a concerning lack of targeted support programs, inadequate resource allocation, and a failure to incorporate equity considerations into IAQ support programs.”
“We would like to see the federal and provincial governments build on existing legislation by introducing legally enforceable standards to ensure accountability and consistency in indoor air quality management practices across education settings,” says Theresa McClenaghan, Executive Director and Counsel Canadian Environmental Law Association.
“This would align with current efforts to implement a Right to Healthy Environment for every person in Canada, and ensure protection for children in the places they learn.”
While general IAQ guidance is widely available, it lacks specifics for educational and child care settings. And targeted funding and technical assistance for IAQ improvements in spaces that kids use most are likewise inadequate.
Meanwhile, “the absence of dedicated resources for child care facilities exacerbates equity issues, particularly for underresourced and socio-economically marginalized communities that may be more reliant on unlicensed and/or home-based child care services due to factors such as affordability and accessibility,” the report says.
“The lack of targeted initiatives for Indigenous communities is particularly troubling due to disproportionate IAQ challenges resulting from the ongoing impacts of colonialism, including aging infrastructure and historical underfunding. This perpetuates health disparities and environmental injustices within these communities.”
The report highlights Shannen’s Dream, a child and youth-led movement named in honour of Shannen Koostachin from Attawapiskat First Nation and her dream of “safe and comfy” schools and culturally-based education for all First Nations children. Since 2011, April 27 has been known as Shannen’s Dream Day of Action.
Wildfires, floods and other indoor air quality problems
The severe, record-setting wildfire season in 2023 prompted school boards across Canada to limit outdoor activities due to harmful airborne particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and other air quality related problems. These pollutants can cause respiratory issues and exacerbate conditions like asthma. Beginning in May, and throughout this year’s spring and summer, above average wildfire severity is again forecast for large parts of Canada (https://bit.ly/4aQyGfw).
Similarly, climate change-induced flooding can cause water damage and mould growth in school and child care facilities, further compromising IAQ and posing health risks.
Meanwhile, many schools and child care settings are ill-equipped for adequate cooling during severe heat events.
Unfortunately, if IAQ is subpar, keeping children indoors may not effectively safeguard their well-being.
Other sources of IAQ problems include radon gas, disinfectants and sanitizing cleaning supplies, diesel school bus fumes, chemicals used in science classes,pools and during renovations, and products used for arts and crafts, such as paints, glues and others that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
General guidelines exist on topics including radon, mould, VOCs, outdoor pollutants, ventilation, and overall IAQ. Furthermore, the federal government offers numerous general guidance documents on residential IAQ, covering a range of pollutants.
However, the nationwide environmental scan uncovered a single, 20-year-old federal guidance document specifically addressing IAQ in schools and child care facilities. (Health Canada is, however, developing guidance for indoor air quality in schools and child care settings, anticipated to be released as a draft for public consultation in late-2024.)
At the provincial/territorial level, only general IAQ guidance is provided, except in Quebec, which has created five school-specific guidance documents, covering the following topics:
- prevention and intervention on air quality in schools;
- maintenance of ventilation systems in schools, including information on responsibilities and good practices;
- managing mould growth in schools;
- good practices for managing natural ventilation in classrooms, and;
- pesticide application in daycares and schools.
The lack of specificity elsewhere “may inadvertently lead to schools and child care facilities not being adequately informed or engaged,” according to the report.
Additionally, it notes that the absence of guidance and programs specific to home child care may be, “amplifying equity challenges for under-resourced and socio-economically marginalized individuals and communities who may be more reliant on these services due to their affordability and accessibility.”
The report identifies several areas of need, including:
- Tailored IAQ guidance and support programs for schools and child care settings
- Targeted funding for IAQ improvements in educational settings, with prioritized funding streams for under-resourced and disproportionately exposed communities
- Expanded technical assistance and outreach programs, and
- Sustainable resource allocation to ensure ongoing maintenance and improvement over time
- Legally enforceable standards and requirements in clear, binding regulations to ensure accountability and consistency in IAQ management practices across educational settings
In a collective call to action (in full at https://bit.ly/3Qd92cW), CPCHE, with its 10 partners and many affiliates and collaborators, “urgently calls upon all levels of government to take immediate and decisive action to attain and sustain healthy air quality in all educational settings,” offering four recommendations:
- Develop indoor air quality guidance and guidelines specific to educational settings, coupled with sustained funding, technical assistance and training, to support schools and child care programs in reducing sources of pollution, ensuring adequate ventilation and filtration, and undertaking routine assessment, monitoring and maintenance.
- Ensure transparent, timely communications and effective outreach so that all schools and child care settings have equitable access to funding opportunities and capacity to act on indoor air quality guidelines and guidance.
- Prioritize investment in healthy indoor air quality in schools and child care settings in communities facing environmental injustice as a targeted and tangible strategy to improve health equity and recognize every child’s right to a healthy environment.
- Take decisive action to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in educational settings, prevent air pollution, both indoors and out, and embrace bold action to mitigate climate change that directly contributes to wildfire smoke, extreme heat and flood-related health risks.
Adds the report: “IAQ support funding at the provincial/territorial level is typically integrated into annual school budget grants. However, these funds lack explicit earmarking for IAQ enhancements, requiring schools to prioritize such initiatives amidst competing budgetary demands.”
“This poses a significant challenge, especially for schools in rural and remote areas with limited budgets due to factors like lower student enrollment or a lack of external fundraising.”
As well, despite federal jurisdiction over IAQ in schools and child care facilities on First Nation reserves, “our scan found limited targeted guidance documents, funding streams, or technical assistance programs tailored for these settings. This gap is particularly concerning given the IAQ challenges faced by many on-reserve communities.”
“For example, a recent study in remote northwestern Ontario found that 21% of Indigenous children in four First Nations communities had been hospitalized for respiratory infections before reaching age 2, highlighting their heightened vulnerability to the adverse health effects of poor IAQ in schools and child care settings. Elevated air pollutant levels in many homes further emphasize the necessity for targeted support, particularly when homes additionally serve as child care settings.”
Video: CPCHE National Speakers Series
A national speakers’ series, organized by CPCHE in the lead-up to Healthy Environments for Learning Day, featured leading scientific and community experts on key IAQ issues of special concern in schools and child care settings.
- Dr. Eric Coker, Senior Scientist, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Environmental Health Services program, Dr. Katie Hayes, Senior Policy Analyst at Health Canada’s Climate Change and Innovation Bureau, and Jacqueline Wilson, counsel at the Canadian Environmental Law Association, discuss child health risks due to climate change, including wildfire smoke’s impact on indoor environmental quality, and mental health-related impacts, including those caused by extreme heat.
Click here: https://bit.ly/3W19lv1
B) Simon Fraser University Prof. Bruce Lanphear, MD, MPH, discusses the impacts of toxins on children’s health, including the impact of low dose exposure to toxins on brain development, learning, and behaviour.
And University of British Columbia Prof. Chris Carlsten, MD, MPH, shares his findings on air pollution-related health effects, with a focus on diesel exhaust and brain function.
Click here: https://bit.ly/4b3Qggd
C) Prof. Jeffrey Siegel, Ph.D, University of Toronto, discusses healthy and sustainable buildings, ventilation and indoor air quality, including the effectiveness of air filtration.
Click here: https://bit.ly/4aUBUz
D) Kelley Bush, Manager, Health Canada’s National Radon Outreach Program, Jim Sinnott, Director, Facilities & Custodial Management of Newfoundland Schools, Greg Baytalan, Specialist Environmental Health Officer, BC’s Interior Health Authority, and Elise Azar, PEI Public School Safety Consultant, discuss the health risks and what can be done to protect children and staff in schools and child care settings from radon, a cancer-causing indoor air contaminant.
Click here: https://bit.ly/446C6Zx
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About
CPCHE
The Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment (CPCHE) is a national collaboration of organizations working together since 2001 to advance children’s environmental health in Canada. CPCHE’s partner and affiliate organizations have expertise in clinical and public health, environmental protection, law and policy, child care, education, disability advocacy, and health equity. CPCHE’s aim is to increase awareness and catalyze action to ensure that all children in Canada have healthy environments in which to live, learn, play and grow. www.healthyenvironmentforkids.ca
About HELD
Healthy Environments for Learning Day (HELD) is a key initiative of CPCHE. HELD, formerly Healthy Schools Day, takes place each April in Canada and aims to raise awareness of and encourage action to prevent environmental health risks to children in early learning and school environments.
www.healthyenvironmentsforkids.ca/held
About CELA
Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) is a legal aid clinic dedicated to environmental equity, justice, and health. Founded in 1970, CELA is one of the oldest advocates for environmental protection in the country. With funding from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO), CELA provides free legal services relating to environmental justice in Ontario, including representing low-income and vulnerable or disadvantaged communities in litigation. CELA also works on environmental legal education and reform initiatives.
Coverage:
The Toronto Star, “Canada needs to improve indoor air quality for kids as an early wildfire season looms, advocates say,” click here
Full coverage summary, click here
News release in full, click here