High School Based Air Quality Assessment Project
What is the High School Based Air Quality Assessment Project?

In the last 4 years over 100 students and over 20 school faculty members have taken an active role in the Air Quality Assessment Project. Funded by the Sacramento, Placer Air Pollution Control and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management Districts, this project of Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails is a research, education and advocacy project. It is designed to allow students to conduct a scientific research project while learning about air quality issues.

Through this multi-step scientific study students determine the air quality at their schools and build strategies to promote change, based on the research findings.

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What exactly do the students accomplish?

As an initial step, students conduct an indoor and outdoor site evaluation of the school, looking for factors that both hinder and promote clean air (e.g. bike racks, idling buses, safe crosswalks, etc.). An optional component of this project may include the conducting of an air quality test utilizing DRUM technology.  This portion of the project is lead by prestigious Dr. Thomas Cahill of UC Davis.  In order to demonstrate correlation, as a supplement to this analysis, the students simultaneously track weather conditions, including wind direction, and conduct a traffic count of vehicles both on surrounding streets and in parking lots. From the analysis, students (with help from key public health and environmental experts) determine realistic improvements that can be made to promote cleaner air on campuses.

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Why is this important?

Students (and faculty) spend a good amount of their time at school and they recognize the importance of a healthy environment. The Sacramento region remains high on the list of the most polluted metropolitan areas in the nation. This pollution adversely affects the health of the population, especially youth. In turn, poor health leads to more school absenteeism. Better air quality around and within schools could increase student attendance and performance.

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What are the benefits to schools?
  • An opportunity to look at campuses in a new way and to understand the causes of air pollution on campus and its associated health effects.
  • A unique and innovative project for students to use skills in: writing, math, research, problem solving, critical thinking, and statistical analysis.
  • The ability to obtain real solutions and be provided with resources to continue to provide a healthy environment for students.
  • An opportunity for science department staff to get involved in an exciting, innovative project.

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What are the benefits to students?
  • Students involved in this project stand out on their university applications.
  • Students can enter science fairs/competitions with a bona fide and original project.
  • Students have the opportunity to create awareness of clean air issues through an innovative program.
  • Students work alongside an internationally known scientist and environmental and health experts.
  • Students learn about air quality measurement methods.
  • Students become lifetime clean air advocates.

 

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Want to get involved ?

For more information or to get further involved with this project, please contact Anne Iaccopucci at
(916 ) 444-5900 or annei@sacbreathe.org.

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2008 High School Air Quality Assessment Project Findings

2008 Student Findings
2008 Student Solutions

Many high school students feel that the bike racks are not easily accessible or safe so students would rather drive, which causes more particulates to fill the air and get in to lungs, again potentially leading to health problems.  

Some student teams found that there were not enough trees on campus for shade or to deflect any particulates that may be in the air and getting in to their lungs.  

Some campuses had a lack of bike lanes, making it unsafe to ride to school, which encourages students to drive and could lead to more pollution and health problems.  

Many classrooms either have no door mats or place door mats inside the doorway to collect dirt and dust and this carries the dirt and dust inside.

Several school parking lots are filled with idling cars during drop off and pick up times. The emissions from these idling cars increases the amount of particulates in the air which can pose a health risk for students, parents, and faculty.

Target freshman and sophomores with clean air alternative transportation options. Initiate an incentive program for walkers, bikers and carpoolers. Funding for this could come from school clubs, grants, Rotary groups or the Dept. of Education.

Start a Pass Less Gas Club on campus, which would promote greener modes of transportation and increase knowledge of Global Warming issues.

Work with SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation to fund the planting of new trees and come up with a strategic location to plant these trees (with student input). Also plant grass in the muddy areas to reduce dust in the air.

Talk to the City Council about adding bike lanes. Maybe even make the curb along the street a no parking zone so that cyclists wouldn’t have to veer out in to the street.

Place door mats on the outside entrance of each entrance doorway so that the dirt and dust will be collected and left outside the classroom.

Redesign the parking lots to expedite traffic flow and encourage parents not to idle for a long length of time.

2008 Clean Air Promotions Found at Schools

The majority of the campuses had plenty of bus stops and bus terminals, which encourages students to take the bus to school – a cleaner alternative to driving.

Students found that in most of the classrooms surveyed, chemical supplies were put away properly, so as to prevent particles from entering the lungs and causing health problems.

Students also found that most classrooms had a lot of usable windows, that provided proper ventilation and air flow.

 

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Thank you to the following schools who have participated in the AQ Assessment Project:

Bella Vista High School, Country High School, Davis Senior High, Dixon High School, El Camino Fundamental High School, Folsom High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Luther Burbank High School, Mira Loma High School, Natomas High School, Rio Vista High School, River City High School,  Rocklin High School, Sacramento Country Day, Sheldon High School, Will C. Wood High School, Winters High School, Woodcreek High School and Woodland High School.

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Curious where your school stands? Check out the air quality at your school!

THINGS TO KEEP
IN MIND

When carrying out mitigations, be sure to include the school administration in the process, but be persistent to make sure your ideas are carried through.

When thinking of ways to keep the air in a classroom clean, remember to think about what type of classroom you are talking about. For example a wood shop class could have a dust vacuum to clean up sawdust and keep it out of the room and students’ and teachers’ lungs.

When thinking about planting more trees on campus be sure to check to make sure the ones you are planting are the best for air quality. You can get more information on this issue from the Sacramento Tree Foundation.


USEFUL LINKS

Sacramento Tree Foundation

Sacramento AQMD

Yolo/Solano AQMD

Placer County AQMD

 SMUD

 SABA

Walk Sacramento

Preliminary Campus Air Quality Site Evaluation Check List:

1. Major Roads. Look at the major roads surrounding your school. Is there a lot of traffic? How close is this traffic to the buildings on campus?
How does this affect air quality? If there is not a lot of traffic and it is not close to the windows and doors of your buildings then you will not be breathing in the exhaust fumes from the vehicles on the road.

2. Bike Lanes/ Bike Racks/ Crosswalks. Are there bike lanes around your school? Do they feel wide enough to be safe enough to use? Are there enough bike racks on campus to securely store bikes? Are there enough crosswalks to safely meet student needs?
How does this affect air quality? If there are sufficient and safe bike lanes, bike racks, and crosswalks around and on campus students will be more inclined to ride their bikes or walk to school instead of driving.

3. Bus Stops / School Bus Terminals. Do you think there are enough buses, bus stops and bus terminals to meet student needs? Are buses idling for too long, especially near windows and doors? Assembly Bill 2644 states that school and transit buses may not sit idle for more than 5 minutes per hour unless heating or air conditioning issues arise. It requires bus drivers to turn off their engines within 100 feet of a school and restart their engines no more than 30 seconds before departing.
How does this affect air quality? If there are more convenient buses going to the schools, more students will ride the buses to school instead of driving, resulting in cleaner air around the school. If buses idle less,they are conserving energy and are also emitting less exhaust themselves.

4. Parking Areas. How many parking lots does your school have? About how many cars can they hold?
How does this affect air quality? If there are less parking lots, students will find it more inconvenient to drive to school and will help to keep the air cleaner by not driving.

5. Trees. Does your campus have only a few trees or a lot of trees? Do they provide adequate shade for students and buildings during lunch, P.E., before and after school?
How does this affect air quality? Trees serve to provide shade and make the campus a “cool” more energy efficient area.

6. Cleaning/Maintenance Supplies. When walking the parameter of your school or looking inside the classrooms do you smell chemicals or other cleaning supplies?
How does this affect air quality? If chemicals are properly stored (both indoors and outdoors) the students will be breathing healthier air.

7. Dumpsters. Are dumpsters kept near outdoor air intakes? Are they emptied often?
How does this affect air quality? If dumpsters are kept away from windows and doors and are emptied frequently the students will not be breathing in fumes from the trash cans.

After collecting your information summarize your findings. Based on your findings ask yourself the following questions:

What can you or your school do to improve the air quality on campus?

What is your school already doing right in terms of air quality? Go the extra mile and present your findings to the principal and other school leaders.

CLICK HERE to let us know what you found on your campus!

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Pass Less Gas

Want to learn how to "pass less gas" at your school?

Check out our Myspace page or contact Anne at annei@sacbreathe.org or (916) 444-5900 for more information about this cool project!

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