ABSTRACT
A recent review of student asthma rates and environmental audits of school
buildings suggests that schools with poor indoor air quality have higher-
than-average rates of asthma.ManyBoston Public School (BPS) children and staff
are learning and working in poor indoor environmental conditions that not only
can exacerbate asthma, but also lead to other problems ranging from allergies and
sinus infections to adverse academic performance [1]. The Boston Urban Asthma
Coalition (BUAC) conducted a preliminary analysis of 2004-05 childhood asthma
rates for BPS students and compared them to the 2004-05 environmental audits
of the top 10 schools with environmental problems. This analysis suggests that
schools with the highest rates of leaks, mold, and pest infestations also have
higher-than-average asthma rates for children.
