Learn More

We have compiled articles, research, professional recommendations, and other resources about indoor air quality (IAQ). Learn more about the problems caused by poor IAQ and the tools we have to solve them. Educate others and make the case for improving IAQ at your local schools. 

​

IAQ standards and professional recommendations

 

• ASHRAE Approves Groundbreaking Standard to Reduce the Risk of Disease Transmission in Indoor Spaces | American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers

• OSPE Supports Adoption of ASHRAE Standard 241 in the Canadian National Building Code | Ontario Society of Professional Engineers

• Core Recommendations for Safer Indoor Air | Ontario Society of Professional Engineers

​

IAQ general resources

​

• How Can You Clean The Air? W.A.T.C.H. | Joey Fox, OSPE IAQ Advisory Group

• HVAC Systems in Buildings and COVID-19 | Public Health Ontario

• Indoor air systems “absolutely key” in curbing spread of viruses | 60 Minutes

• How Enhanced Ventilation And Air Filtration Can Fight Covid-19 | Forbes

• 5 Steps to Advocate for Better Indoor Air Quality | Liesl McConchie

• Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses | Science

​

IAQ in schools and on school buses

​

• Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools | US Environmental Protection Agency

• Student Health and Academic Performance | US Environmental Protection Agency

• Poor air quality in Toronto schools could impair learning environment | CTV News

• Students Need School Bus Air As Clean As in Their Classroom | School Transportation News

• Indoor air quality and health in schools: A critical review for developing the roadmap for the future school environment | Journal of Building Engineering

• Identifying the K-12 classrooms' indoor air quality factors that affect student academic performance | Science of The Total Environment

​

Ventilation

 

• COVID-19: Guidance on indoor ventilation during the pandemic | Health Canada

• Ventilation Key to Reducing Risk | Yale School of Public Health

• Italian study shows ventilation can cut school COVID cases by 82% | Reuters

• Your Kid's School Needs Better Ventilation to Help Keep COVID-19 in Check | TIME 

• Adequate Outdoor Air Ventilation Can Improve Ability to Perform, Raise Test Scores and Reduce Airborne Transmission of Infection | US Environmental Protection Agency

• Indoor Air Changes and Potential Implications for SARS-CoV-2 Transmission | JAMA Network

• New review of evidence highlights importance of ventilation to prevent spread of covid-19 | BMJ

• CO2 concentration monitoring inside educational buildings as a strategic tool to reduce the risk of Sars-CoV-2 airborne transmission | Environmental Research

​

Air filtration

 

• Choosing a portable air purifier | Health Canada

• Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19) | US Environmental Protection Agency

• The Corsi-Rosenthal Box: DIY Box Fan Air Filter for COVID-19 and Wildfire Smoke | UC Davis

• Characterizing the performance of a do-it-yourself (DIY) box fan air filter | Aerosol Science and Technology

• Schools cut covid-19 sick days by 20 per cent using HEPA air filters | NewScientist

​

Masks

 

• Breathe Safe, Stay Well: Mask up to protect yourself and the community | Ontario School Safety

• Guidance: Face Coverings for COVID-19 Protection | Ontario Society for Professional Engineers

• Masks During Pandemics Caused by Respiratory Pathogens—Evidence and Implications for Action | JAMA Network

​

Long covid

​

• Long COVID Explained: The Ultimate Guide For Kids! | Frontiers for Young Minds

• Educational Toolkit | Long Covid Kids

​

Wildfire smoke and other outdoor air pollutants

 

• Wildfire smoke 101: Wildfire smoke and your health | Health Canada

• Infographic: Protecting your indoor air from outdoor pollutants | Health Canada

• How Wildfire Smoke Raises Infectious Disease Risk | The Scientist

• How to clean the air from harmful wildfire smoke | CleanAirCrew

​

Examples of schools and governments taking steps to improve IAQ

​

• NDP MPPs pitch solution for better air quality in schools and child care facilities | Ontario NDP

• Parents call for ‘transparent’ air quality guidelines in Waterloo Region public schools | CityNews

• Air quality in schools (CO2 is measured in Quebec schools) | Government of Quebec

• Quebec data shows CO2 levels higher than acceptable in a third of classrooms measured | CTV News

• Nearly 83% of tested N.B. schools exceeded peak CO2 limits, air quality results show | CBC News

• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Sensor Dashboard | Boston Public Schools

• French regulations on indoor air CO2 levels in daycares and schools | Nous Aérons

• All schools to receive carbon dioxide monitors | Government of the United Kingdom

• CO2 monitors to be mandatory in all Dutch classrooms | Dutch News

​