Schools across the country are finally realizing that harsh chemicals in the classroom are affecting the health of kids and teachers. What’s great about this article in Education World is recognition of the rise in numbers of children with chemical sensitivity, also called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity.
And as the number of children diagnosed with asthma and chemical sensitivities continues to increase and research mounts about the importance of indoor air quality, some school leaders are seeking out a new generation of cleaning supplies for their school buildings.
CLEANING GREEN BENEFITS KIDS, STAFF, LEARNING
Decreasing the use of chemical cleaners in schools can reduce the number of health problems among teachers, students, and custodial staff; cut down on absenteeism; and even improve student performance, according to green cleaning advocates.
“The more you do to improve the environment in the buildings, the more you see [performance] improvements,” said Claire L. Barnett, executive director of the Healthy Schools Network and coordinator of the Coalition for Healthier Schools. “Every school district is enrolling more children with health and behavior problems. Kids are more vulnerable to chemicals; when schools take steps to reduce chemicals, they often see behavior and attendance improve.”
The keys to learning, she noted, “may be in custodians’ pockets.”
“Most schools don’t see cleaning as integral to the mission of educating children,” added Steve Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, a company devoted to green cleaning. “But I assure you, they are not going to learn if they are getting sick.”
People spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, and indoor air can be between 5 and 100 times more polluted than outdoor air because of the lack of circulation, said Barnett, citing information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency .
“Most schools use cleaning supplies that can affect teachers and kids,” noted Rochelle Davis, executive director of the Healthy Schools Campaign, advocates for policies and practices that create healthier school environments. “But there is no reason schools shouldn’t be making changes. Green cleaning products are available, effective, and affordable.”
What kinds of cleaning products are used at your child’s school?
Link.
Related links on The Canary Report: Pesticide exposure at school and the greenSCHOOLS program.
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