References and Resources – FAQs: Climate-related Indoor Air Quality Concerns in Learning Settings

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This resource is a compilation of the references cited in the eight FAQs: Climate-related Indoor Air Quality Concerns in Learning Settings, as well as the health evidence reviewed and additional helpful resources by topic (FAQ).

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Health Impacts

Health Canada. Air quality and health. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality.html

Government of Canada. Air quality and children’s health. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/children-health.html

Health Canada. Infographic: Protecting your indoor air. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/infographic-protecting-indoor-air-outdoor-pollutants.html

Government of Canada. Local Air Quality Health Index. https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/index_e.html

Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment. Healthy Environments for Learning Day. 2024 Campaign Resources. Indoor Air Quality. https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/held/2024-campaign-indoor-air-quality/

Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment. Healthy Environments for Learning Day Campaign 2024. A Collective Call for Action to Ensure Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools and Child Care Settings. https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/held/2024-campaign-indoor-air-quality/2024-call-for-action/

Local Air Quality – Air Quality Health Index (AQHI)

Government of Canada. Local Air Quality Health Index. https://weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/index_e.html

Government of Canada. Air Quality Health Index. Local conditions, forecasts, wildfire smoke, health risks, pollutants, weather, educational tool kits and publications. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index.html

Government of Canada. Air quality and children’s health. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/air-quality-health-index/children-health.html

AQMap online platform (air quality monitoring tool developed by Environment and Climate Change Canada in collaboration with the University of Northern British Columbia). Aqmap v3.60. B.Nilson, P. Jackson. https://aqmap.ca/aqmap/#4/60.01/-109.39/L41/L38/L40

Flooding and Mould

Indoor Dampness and Mould and Effective Remediation and Prevention Strategies. Expert Review and Summary of Scientific Evidence. 2021. Prepared by R. Summerbell and R. Hart. https://rentsafe.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/mould-expert-report_health-impactsremediation.pdf

Health Canada. Guide to addressing moisture and mould indoors. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/addressing-moisture-mould-your-home.html

Health Canada. Flood Cleanup: Keep in mind indoor air quality. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/flood-cleanup-keep-mind-indoor-air-quality.html

Health Canada. Mould. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/reduce-humidity-moisture-mould.html

National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. Mould: Assessment, remediation and building for resilience. 2023. https://ncceh.ca/resources/subject-guides/mould-assessment-remediation-and-building-resilience

Wildfire Smoke

Health Canada – Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/healthy-living/environment/air-quality/wildfire-smoke.html

Health Canada’s Guidance for Cleaner Air Spaces during Wildfire Smoke Events. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/guidance-cleaner-air-spaces-during-wildfire-smoke-events.html

Health Canada. Wildfire smoke with extreme heat https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/combine-wildfire-smoke-heat.html

BC Centre for Disease Control. Wildfire Smoke Recommendations for Schools https://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Health-Environment/Wildfire_Smoke_Recommendations_for_Schools.pdf

BC Centre for Disease Control. Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality: http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Health-Environment/BCCDC_WildFire_FactSheet_SmokeAndAirQuality.pdf

AirNow.gov. 2021. Children’s Health and Wildfire Smoke Workshop: Workshop Recommendations https://www.airnow.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/childrens-health-wildfire-smoke-workshop-recommendations.pdf

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Best Practices Guide For Improving Indoor Air Quality In Commercial/Public Buildings During Wildland Fire Smoke Events https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_Report.cfm?dirEntryId=365813&Lab=CPHEA

United States Environmental Protection Agency. Air Sensor Guidebook. https://www.epa.gov/air-sensor-toolbox/how-use-air-sensors-air-sensor-guidebook

BC Centre for Disease Control. Wildfire Smoke and Your Health. Respiratory Protection for Wildfire Smoke. https://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Health-Environment/BCCDC_WildFire_FactSheet_FaceMasks.pdf

Health Canada. Using a respirator mask during wildfire smoke events. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/using-respirator-mask-during-wildfire-smoke-events.html

Wildfire Smoke and Extreme Heat

Health Canada. Wildfire smoke with extreme heat. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/combine-wildfire-smoke-heat.html

BC Centre for Disease Control. Wildfire Smoke and Your Health. Wildfire smoke during extreme heat events. https://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Health-Environment/BCCDC_WildFire_FactSheet_HotWeather.pdf

Simcoe-Muskoka Distric Health Unit. Extreme Heat: Guidance for Schools and Child Care Centres. 2025. https://www.simcoemuskokahealth.org/docs/default-source/topic-environment/extreme-heat—guidance-for-schools-and-child-care-centres_final_v1.pdf?sfvrsn=

Portable Air Cleaners

Health Canada. Using a portable air cleaner to improve indoor air https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/indoor-air-contaminants/choosing-portable-purifier.html

National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health – DIY Air Cleaners: Evidence on effectiveness and considerations for safe operation https://ncceh.ca/resources/evidence-reviews/do-it-yourself-diy-air-cleaners-evidence-effectiveness-and

BC Centre for Disease Control. Do-It-Yourself Air Cleaners. https://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Health-Environment/BCCDC_WildFire_FactSheet_BoxFanAirFilters.pdf

California Air Resources Board. List of CARB-Certified Air Cleaning Devices. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/list-carb-certified-air-cleaning-devices

First Four Healthy Building Strategies Every Building Should Pursue to Reduce Risk from COVID-19. Lancet COVID-19 Commission Task Force on Safe School, Safe Work, Safe Travel. 2022 https://healthybuildings.hsph.harvard.edu/research/infectious-disease/covid-19/lancet-covid-19-commission-task-force-on-safe-work-safe-school-and-safe-travel

Traffic-Related Air Pollution (TRAP)

Health Canada. Traffic-Related Air Pollution https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/outdoor-pollution-health/traffic-related.html

Health Canada. Infographic. Does traffic take your breath away? https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/publications/healthy-living/infographic-does-traffic-take-your-breath-away.html

Health Canada. 2022. Health Impacts of Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Canada https://publications.gc.ca/site/archivee-archived.html?url=https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/sc-hc/H144-91-2022-eng.pdf

Health Canada. 2022. Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution in Canada: An Assessment of Population Proximity to Roadways. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2022/sc-hc/H144-99-2022-eng.pdf

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2024. Health Risks of Indoor Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Practical Mitigation Solutions https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27341/health-risks-of-indoor-exposure-to-fine-particulate-matter-and-practical-mitigation-solutions

Environmental Protection Agency. Best Practices for Reducing Near-Road Pollution Exposure at Schools. 2015. https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-10/documents/ochp_2015_near_road_pollution_booklet_v16_508.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency. 2015. School Siting Guidelines https://www.epa.gov/schools/view-download-or-print-school-siting-guidelines

Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment. Healthy Environments for Learning Day Campaign 2023 Campaign. Electric School Buses. https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/held/2023-campaign-school-bus-electrification/

National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health. 2010. Evidence Review. Minimizing children’s non-residential exposure to traffic-related air pollution. https://ncceh.ca/sites/default/files/Children_Exposure_Traffic_Pollution_Aug_2010.pdf

Articles reviewed on traffic-related air pollution – Evidence on impacts on child health and learning, exposure near schools, and mitigation measures:

• Chloe Stenson, Amanda J. Wheeler, Alison Carver, David Donaire-Gonzalez, Miguel Alvarado-Molina, Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Rachel Tham, The impact of Traffic-Related air pollution on child and adolescent academic Performance: A systematic review, Environment International,Volume 155,2021,106696, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106696. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021003214)

• Lu W, Hackman DA, Schwartz J. Ambient air pollution associated with lower academic achievement among US children: A nationwide panel study of school districts. Environ Epidemiol. 2021 Nov 3;5(6):e174. doi: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000174. Erratum in: Environ Epidemiol. 2022 Feb 25;6(2):e202. doi: 10.1097/EE9.0000000000000202. PMID: 34909554; PMCID: PMC8663889. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8663889/

• Matthaios VN, Kang CM, Wolfson JM, Greco KF, Gaffin JM, Hauptman M, Cunningham A, Petty CR, Lawrence J, Phipatanakul W, Gold DR, Koutrakis P. Factors Influencing Classroom Exposures to Fine Particles, Black Carbon, and Nitrogen Dioxide in Inner-City Schools and Their Implications for Indoor Air Quality. Environ Health Perspect. 2022 Apr;130(4):47005. doi: 10.1289/EHP10007. Epub 2022 Apr 21. PMID: 35446676; PMCID: PMC9022782. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9022782/

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 2024. Health Risks of Indoor Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Practical Mitigation Solutions. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27341/health-risks-of-indoor-exposure-to-fine-particulate-matter-and-practical-mitigation-solutions

• Nelly D. Saenen, Eline B. Provost, Mineke K. Viaene, Charlotte Vanpoucke, Wouter Lefebvre, Karen Vrijens, Harry A. Roels, Tim S. Nawrot. Recent versus chronic exposure to particulate matter air pollution in association with neurobehavioral performance in a panel study of primary schoolchildren, Environmental International,Volume 95, 2016, Pages 112-119, ISSN 0160-4120, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412016302720?via%3Dihub

• Pitt TM, Rowe BH, Hicks A. You exhaust me! Air pollution exposure near schools during pick-up and drop-off times. Paediatr Child Health. 2023 Feb 15;28(5):275-277. doi: 10.1093/pch/pxac113. PMID: 37484031; PMCID: PMC10362952. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10362952/

• MacNeill, M., Dobbin, N., St-Jean, M., Wallace, L., Marro, L., Shin, T., You, H., Kulka, R., Allen, R.W. and Wheeler, A.J. 2016. Can changing the timing of outdoor air intake reduce indoor concentrations of traffic-related pollutants in schools? Indoor Air. 26(5):687-701. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.12252

• Vakalis, D., Lepine, C., MacLean, H. L., & Siegel, J. A. (2020). Can green schools influence academic performance? Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 51(13), 1354–1396. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2020.1753631

• Lagare, A., et al. High-Efficiency Air Cleaning Reduces Indoor Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Alters Indoor Air Chemistry in a Near-Roadway School https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.est.0c02792

• Gilbey, S.E., Zhao, Y., Lee, A. et al. Is poor air quality in day-care centres’ affecting our children’s health? A study of indoor air quality in childcare facilities located in Perth, Western Australia. Air Qual Atmos Health 17, 295–313 (2024). https://doi.org/10.10res07/s11869-023-01445-7

• Christian H, Lester L, Trost SG, Schipperijn J, Pereira G, Franklin P, Wheeler AJ. Traffic exposure, air pollution and children’s physical activity at early childhood education and care. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2022 Mar;240:113885. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113885. Epub 2021 Nov 27. PMID: 34847452. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34847452/

• Youn-Suk Son, A review on indoor and outdoor factors affecting the level of particulate matter in classrooms of elementary schools, Journal of Building Engineering, Volume 75, 2023, 106957, ISSN 2352-7102, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106957. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352710223011361)

• Gartland N, Aljofi HE, Dienes K, Munford LA, Theakston AL, van Tongeren M. The Effects of Traffic Air Pollution in and around Schools on Executive Function and Academic Performance in Children: A Rapid Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 10;19(2):749. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19020749. PMID: 35055570; PMCID: PMC8776123. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8776123/

• Weeberb J. Requia, Erick Kill, Heresh Amini, Proximity of schools to roads and students’ academic performance: A cross-sectional study in the Federal District, Brazil,Environmental Research,Volume 202,2021,111770,ISSN 0013-9351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111770.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935121010641)

• Requia, W.J., Adams, M.D., Arain, A. et al. Particulate matter intake fractions for vehicular emissions at elementary schools in Hamilton, Canada: an assessment of outdoor and indoor exposure. Air Qual Atmos Health 10, 1259–1267 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-017-0510-z

• Wes Austin, Garth Heutel, Daniel Kreisman, School bus emissions, student health and academic performance, Economics of Education Review, Volume 70,2019,Pages 109-126,ISSN 0272-7757, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2019.03.002. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272775719301530)

• Jennifer A. Heissel, Claudia Persico and David Simon. Does Pollution Drive Achievement? The Effect of Traffic Pollution on Academic Performance. Journal of Human Resources, May 2022, 57 (3) 747-776; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.57.3.1218-9903R2 https://jhr.uwpress.org/content/57/3/747

• Prashant Kumar, Hamid Omidvarborna, Francesco Pilla, Neil Lewin, A primary school driven initiative to influence commuting style for dropping-off and picking-up of pupils, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 727, 2020, 138360, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138360. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720318738)

• Houston D, Ong P, Wu J, Winer A. Proximity of licensed child care facilities to near-roadway vehicle pollution. Am J Public Health. 2006 Sep;96(9):1611-7. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.077727. Epub 2006 Jul 27. PMID: 16873739; PMCID: PMC1551948. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1551948/

• Pinault, L., et al (2017). Exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution in Canada. Statistics Canada Health Reports, 28(3): 9-16. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2017003/article/14781-eng.pdf

Indoor Air Quality Standards, Guidelines and Regulations

Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health and Environment, Canadian Environmental Law Association. An Environmental Scan of Indoor Air Quality Support Programs for Schools and Child Care Settings in Canada. 2024. https://healthyenvironmentforkids.ca/held/2024-campaign-indoor-air-quality/2024-environmental-scan/

Health Canada. Indoor air quality resources for professionals. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/air-quality/residential-indoor-air-quality-guidelines.html

Government of Canada. A Right to a Healthy Environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/canadian-environmental-protection-act-registry/right-to-healthy-environment.html

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