Air pollution in classrooms: 30,000 preventable cases of asthma among 6-11 year olds according to Public Health France

La pollution intérieure mise en cause. Midi Libre – EVA TISSOT

Public Health France is publishing this Tuesday, January 30, the first results of work on indoor air pollution in schools. They confirm the presence of pollutants and poor air renewal responsible for at least 30,000 cases of preventable asthma among primary school students.

"Several tens of thousands of cases of asthma could be avoided each year by reducing exposure to formaldehyde and mold in classrooms" : this is the conclusion of a survey on the quality of air in classrooms, the first of its kind carried out at the initiative of Public Health France (SPF). This quantitative assessment of the health impacts (EQIS) of air pollution in schools also focuses on the effects of mold.

According to the first results, communicated this Tuesday, January 30,  "30,000 cases of asthma would thus be avoidable each year in children aged 6 to 11 years" by reducing "exposure to formaldehyde via air aeration-ventilation" actions. Formaldehyde, a colorless and flammable gas present naturally in the air, is a substance classified as carcinogenic.

Still according to Public Health France, "nearly 12 000 cases of wheezing" could also be avoided in children "by eradicating the presence of visible mold" in classrooms.

Twelve million students in school

"While 12 million students return to school each year in France, guaranteeing air quality favorable to children's health in schools is a challenge of public health", Public Health France alert, which calls on local authorities, "responsible for school buildings", and the Ministry of National Education, because of the actions of prevention "are the responsibility of the occupants of the teaching premises".

 "The integration of health and environmental criteria in the choice of materials, furniture or school supplies used in classrooms can limit exposure to formaldehyde or to other volatile organic compounds, thus indicates SPF. And "the maintenance of ventilation systems and the layout of classrooms can also play a role".

According to Public Health France, EQIS "will be rolled out at the local level in 2024" in order to "have finer data".

Other sources of pollution will be explored, such as the impact of road traffic "in and near educational establishments in urban areas".< /p>