October 26, 2003—The EPA presented the Science Center’s MidAtlantic Environmental Hygiene Resource Center (MEHRC) with a $75,000 grant to support training programs designed to improve indoor air quality in schools throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
MEHRC is a program of the Science Center that provides indoor air quality training to the building management industry and others who are interested in operating healthy buildings. MEHRC Director Charlotta Thunander said the EPA grant will be used to support a program that offers specialized training for principals, teachers, custodians, school nurses and the public on how to ensure healthy schools.
According to Thunander, schools throughout the region are experiencing a range of environmental issues—everything from mold to poor ventilation and outgassing from carpets and furniture.
According to the EPA, the leading cause of lost school days for children is asthma-related incidences. “Poor indoor air quality can be an asthma trigger. Providing a healthy environment for both students and faculty is not just a health issue, it’s also a learning issue,” said Mr. Welsh, who leads Region 3 of the EPA, encompassing the mid-Atlantic states and the District of Columbia.
For more information, contact MEHRC and The Science Center.
