During the COVID-19 pandemic, public officials brought renewed attention to indoor air quality in schools. Improving ventilation and airflow was considered a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases.
在 COVID-19 大流行期间，政府官员重新关注学校的室内空气质量。改善通风和气流被认为是预防 COVID-19 和其他疾病传播的一种方法。
In January, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said indoor pollution can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. The agency said children face higher risk from indoor pollutants like asbestos, mold, radon, and methane. They also face pollution from particulate matter, like vehicle exhaust or wildfire smoke, which can enter classrooms from the outside. The EPA said climate change has made safe indoor air quality more important.
一月份，美国环境保护局 (EPA) 表示，室内污染可能是室外水平的两到五倍。该机构表示，儿童面临石棉、霉菌、氡气和甲烷等室内污染物的更高风险。他们还面临着汽车尾气或野火烟雾等颗粒物的污染，这些颗粒物可以从外部进入教室。美国环保署表示，气候变化使安全的室内空气质量变得更加重要。
Pollutants can lead to a number of health problems for children if they breathe them for a long period, the EPA said. Health effects might include coughing , breathing diseases, allergic reactions, asthma and cancer.
美国环保局表示，如果儿童长期吸入污染物，可能会导致许多健康问题。健康影响可能包括咳嗽、呼吸系统疾病、过敏反应、哮喘和癌症。
The agency said there are several ways to maintain healthy indoor air quality. These include controlling pollutants, ventilating outdoor air, and maintaining temperature and water in the air, or its humidity.
该机构表示，有多种方法可以保持健康的室内空气质量。其中包括控制污染物、室外空气通风以及保持空气中的温度和水分或湿度。
A 2022 international study published in the Journal of Building Engineering said thousands of American schools have outdated HVAC systems. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. A 2020 study from the U.S. Government Accountability Office said that nine percent of school districts needed to fix “environmental conditions” like mold, lead, or asbestos in at least half their schools.
《建筑工程杂志》上发表的 2022 年国际研究称，数千所美国学校的 HVAC 系统已经过时。 HVAC 代表供暖、通风和空调。美国政府问责办公室 2020 年的一项研究表明，9% 的学区需要解决至少一半学校的霉菌、铅或石棉等“环境条件”。
Indoor air quality might affect school performance. Some studies say that a healthy school environment lifts attendance, increases test scores and improves learning. A study of 10,000 school districts from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that decreased pollution in schools led to higher test scores.
室内空气质量可能会影响学校的表现。一些研究表明，健康的学校环境可以提高出勤率、提高考试成绩并改善学习效果。美国国家经济研究局对 10,000 个学区进行的一项研究发现，学校污染减少会导致考试成绩提高。
Many schools have not taken steps to improve ventilation although research suggests it is important. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had recommended four ways to improve ventilation in schools. They included simple changes like opening windows and using fans to maintain airflow in buildings. Costly recommendations included replacing HVAC systems, using in-room air cleaners, or installing ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) devices.
尽管研究表明通风很重要，但许多学校尚未采取措施改善通风。在 COVID-19 大流行期间，美国疾病控制与预防中心 (CDC) 推荐了四种改善学校通风的方法。其中包括简单的改变，例如打开窗户和使用风扇维持建筑物内的气流。昂贵的建议包括更换暖通空调系统、使用室内空气净化器或安装紫外线杀菌照射 (UVGI) 设备。
Scientists and public health leaders pushed school districts to use federal pandemic emergency money for ventilation systems. But a 2022 CDC study of over 8,000 school districts found that about half had taken any of the four recommendations. That few districts had taken steps to improve air quality shows “the ongoing opportunity to improve indoor air quality among K–12 school buildings in the United States,” the authors of the study wrote. The aid money expires this fall.
科学家和公共卫生领导人敦促学区使用联邦流行病紧急资金用于通风系统。但 2022 年 CDC 对 8,000 多个学区的一项研究发现，大约一半的学区采纳了这四项建议中的任何一项。该研究的作者写道，少数几个地区采取了改善空气质量的措施，这表明“美国 K-12 校舍的室内空气质量仍有改善的机会”。援助资金将于今年秋天到期。
In January, the EPA announced $32 million in grant funding to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases at schools in poor communities. Non-profit organizations and state governments could apply for the grants, which are expected to be awarded this fall. The EPA said the program was part of a set of policies from President Joe Biden’s administration. The money came from the Inflation Reduction Act passed by Congress in 2022.
一月份，美国环保署宣布拨款 3200 万美元，用于减少贫困社区学校的空气污染和温室气体排放。非营利组织和州政府可以申请这笔赠款，预计将于今年秋季发放。美国环保署表示，该计划是乔·拜登总统政府一系列政策的一部分。这笔钱来自国会2022年通过的《通货膨胀削减法案》。
In the announcement, EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe said: “EPA is working with our partners to…improve air quality and energy efficiency .”
EPA 副署长珍妮特·麦凯布 (Janet McCabe) 在公告中表示：“EPA 正在与我们的合作伙伴合作……改善空气质量和能源效率。”