Our school/child care setting is next to a busy road. What measures can be taken to minimize the impact of traffic-related air pollution on indoor air quality?
- Traffic-related air pollution puts our health at risk. The particles and gases in vehicle exhaust are associated with short term effects (e.g., worsening of asthma symptoms, effects on brain function) and increased risk of chronic disease later in life (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular disease). In addition, traffic pollution is an important source of the greenhouse gases that cause global climate change. Rising temperatures as a result of climate change further add to the health risk by increasing chemical reactions that create additional harmful pollutants from traffic emissions and other sources.
- Every year in Canada, traffic-related air pollution is responsible for approximately 2.7 million acute respiratory symptom days, 210,000 asthma symptom days, and 3,600 child acute bronchitis episodes. Health Canada estimates that 48% of schools in Canada are located within 200 m of high traffic roads and thus have a higher risk of exposure to traffic pollution.
- Children are more vulnerable to the impacts of traffic pollution because:
- their bodies, brains and lungs are still developing
- they breathe more for their size compared to adults
- Traffic-related air pollution can infiltrate indoor air.
- Classrooms in school settings with windows facing bus loading zones, and closer to other sources of traffic pollution, have been associated with higher levels of fine particulate matter and decreased academic performance for children.
- Child care centres closer to busy roads have been associated with higher indoor pollutant concentrations compared to centres located in less traffic-dense areas.
- Reduce traffic pollution at the source:
- Encourage parents, teachers and visitors to choose active and sustainable transportation along low-traffic routes where possible, e.g., walking, cycling, public transit, or car-pooling
- Establish an anti-idling policy
- Advocate for the health and climate benefits of vehicle electrification, starting with buses
- Keep traffic pollution from coming indoors:
- Move school bus stops away from the building’s air intake system
- Time the operation of the ventilation system to not coincide with rush hour and busy drop-off and pickup times
- Consider limiting drop-off and pick-up near school buildings
- Keep windows closed and reduce intake of air during rush hour and during pick-up/drop-off, as well as during wildfire smoke events or when local air quality is poor
- Use ventilation and filtration to optimize indoor air quality:
- Ensure that the building’s ventilation and filtration system is operating properly
- Use air filters with the highest (particle removal) efficiency rating suitable for your building’s air handling system. Replace them regularly according to manufacturer’s specifications, or more often as needed. A visual inspection can determine if the filter is clogged and should be replaced.
- Consider portable air cleaners (either commercial or DIY) as an additional measure to remove contaminants from indoor air. See FAQ: Portable Air Cleaners
- Adjust the timing and location of children’s outdoor activities:
- Time outdoor activities to avoid peak pollution levels
- Situate outdoor play areas as far away from the roadway as possible
- Consider natural or constructed buffers to filter and divert traffic pollutants:
- Identify opportunities to install roadside barriers such as sound walls or vegetation (trees or shrubs) along roadways
- Check out this Vegetation Barrier Toolkit for Schools and Communities
- More information on traffic-related air pollution including health effects, impacts and exposures can be found at these links to Health Canada resources and reports:
- These helpful resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provide recommendations to reduce traffic-related air pollution near schools:
- Learn more about the health and climate benefits of school bus electrification
Click here for a compilation of the references used in developing this FAQ and additional helpful resources.
Click here for more FAQs: Climate-related Indoor Air Quality Concerns in Learning Settings