Policy Brief-healthy air healthy schools phase 1

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Ultrafine air pollution particles from road and aircraft traffic infiltrate schools around Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, with potential negative effects on health and student academic performance, but using HEPA air purifiers significantly improved classroom air quality, according to a 2021 University of Washington study. The findings come from the Healthy Air, Healthy Schools Study funded by the Washington State Legislature and five cities near Sea-Tac Airport. The study was led by the UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The study found that about one-half of all outdoor ultrafine pollution was measured inside classrooms in five schools near the airport before HEPA air purifiers were installed. Measurements after the HEPA units were deployed found that ultrafine pollution in classrooms dropped to about one-tenth of outdoor levels. The primary sources of ultrafine particles at the schools came from general roadway traffic, aircraft traffic and heavy-duty trucks, in that order. The study also found a significant increase in outdoor particles attributable to aircraft traffic when aircraft were landing overhead. The portable HEPA filter units removed an estimated: • 83% of total ultrafine particles. • 67% of aircraft particles. • 73% of heavy-duty truck particles. Overall, using portable HEPA filter units could reduce classroom concentrations of ultrafine particles by approximately 70%, depending on the age of the school building and other characteristics, according to the study’s models. Phase 1 Conclusions This study is unique in focusing on ultrafine particle pollution in school settings and demonstrating…

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