U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Indoor Environments Division
Description
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for protecting public health from outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution in homes, work places and schools. EPA implements regulations for outdoor air pollution under the Clean Air Act. With few regulations for indoor air pollutants, EPA relies on providing education and guidance to the public to reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants.
EPA's Coordinated Approach on Asthma
EPA promotes scientific understanding of environmental asthma triggers and ways to manage asthma in community settings through research, education and outreach. With federal, state and local partners, it builds the nation's capacity to control asthma and manage exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants linked to asthma. EPA’s purpose is to build knowledge and awareness to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans with asthma.
Resources
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program: The Tools for Schools program is a common sense approach to improving air quality in schools. Using checklists and an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan, school officials can see how their everyday activities can affect IAQ and take simple steps to avoid the actions that negatively affect IAQ in their schools.
Publications: EPA has many publications and factsheets on Indoor Air Quality Management; Student Performance; Asthma in Schools; Mold in Schools.
Tools/Models/Studies: Energy Cost and IAQ Performance of Ventilation Systems and Controls Modeling Study; IAQ Building Education and Assessment Tool (I-BEAM); The School Advanced Ventilation Engineering Software (SAVES).
Network, E-Newsletters, Webinars: A National Schools Network to collaborate with others who are working together to create healthy schools nationwide.
Partners: EPA has many school partners: American Association of School Administrators (AASA); American Lung Association (ALA), National Association of School Nurses (NASN), and more.
How we meet the SPAC objectives
The Environmental Protection Agency works to meet these objectives as stated in the Strategic Plan for Asthma in California, 2014-2019:
5A.1 Facilitate the establishment and implementation of comprehensive asthma policies and procedures in districts and schools to ensure the health and well-being of students and staff with asthma.
5A.2 Advocate for school and district implementation of, and compliance with, existing laws and regulations that impact asthma.
5A.4. Institute targeted and specialized trainings for district and school personnel on asthma management and indoor environmental quality in schools, to include health personnel, administrators, teachers, front office staff, coaches, maintenance/facility personnel, food preparation workers, and bus drivers.
5A.5. Minimize exposure to contaminated outdoor air and promote safe and healthy outdoor school environments.
Contact Information
Shelly Rosenblum
Indoor Air Coordinator
U.S. EPA / Region 9
415-947-4193