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Greener Schools

American children absorb more than reading, writing and arithmetic during those eight hours they spend at school each day: They’re also breathing in a wide variety of indoor air pollutants, many of them coming from cleaning fumes.

That’s why the state of New York recently passed legislation requiring schools to use “environmentally friendly” supplies when mopping the floors and wiping down surfaces kids come into contact with during their daily lessons. The law, which took effect September 1, was prompted by concerns about children’s health.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to indoor air pollutants is up to five times as high as outdoor exposures. Cleaners, waxes and deodorants (those smelly air fresheners) are some of the worst culprits for contributing to the toxic fumes kids inhale in class. They can cause problems such as skin and eye irritation, asthma attacks and adverse neurological effects.

The state law provides schools with a list of approved products, but allows them to use up old supplies before buying new ones. Most of the new products are comparable in price to the old ones.

In addition to providing a cleaner, healthier environment for kids, the new products will also cause fewer problems for the environment and less toxic runoff. The law covers products used both inside and outside the school.

For more information on this story, read this article.

For more information on greener cleaning products and children’s health, click here.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org