Who's Sick at School: Linking Poor School Conditions and Health Disparities for Boston's Children

Abstract

A recent review of student asthma rates and environmental audits of school buildings suggests that schools with poor indoor air quality have higher-than-average rates of asthma. Many Boston Public School (BPS) children and staff are learning and working in poor indoor environmental conditions that not only can exacerbate asthma, but also lead to other problems ranging from allergies and sinus infections to adverse academic performance [1]. The Boston Urban Asthma Coalition (BUAC) conducted a preliminary analysis of 2004–05 childhood asthma rates for BPS students and compared them to the 2004–05 environmental audits of the top 10 schools with environmental problems. This analysis suggests that schools with the highest rates of leaks, mold, and pest infestations also have higher-than-average asthma rates for children.

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References

Mendell

M. J.

Heath

G. A.

. Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance? A critical review of the literature. Indoor Air 2005 Feb;15(1): 27–52.

National Center for Health Statistics. Raw Data from the National Health Interview Survey, U.S., 2003. (Analysis by the American Lung Association, Using SPSS and SUDAAN software).

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. Health disparities and gaps in school readiness. Future Child. 2005 Spring; 15(1): 117–38.

Over the last 4 years, the asthma rate in Boston Public Schools has ranged from 12% to 7%.

One study found that 56% of the children in the Franklin Hill Housing Development had doctor-diagnosed asthma. D. Brugge et al., An Asthma Intervention Pilot Study in Public Housing: Lessons and Baseline Data, Engineering Solutions to Indoor Air Quality Programs Symposium, U.S. EPA 2000. In addition, the Massachusetts asthma rate for children is 12.3%, the same as the New England regional rate. It is difficult to believe that Boston has a childhood asthma rate lower than the rest of the state when our adult asthma rates exceed the state average and childhood asthma rates are traditionally higher than adult rates. Child Asthma in New England: A Report by the New England Asthma Regional Council. January 2004. www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org. Health of Boston, 2005, Boston Public Health Commission, Research and Technical Services, Boston, MA 02118.

Health of Boston, 2005. Boston's children under the age of 5 experience the highest hospitalization rates at 8.9 per 1,000—four times the Massachusetts rate.

Ibid. In 2004, Black children under the age of 5 had the highest asthma hospitalization rate of 10.7 per 1,000 and Latino children under the age of 5 had 8.6 per 1,000 while White children of the same age had a rate of 2 per 1,000.

Boston Public Schools website: www.http://boston.k12.ma.us/

National Resources Defense Council. http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution/cep/cbos.asp

10.

The inspections began in 2002 after a city council hearing initiated by City Councilor Charles Turner and the Boston Urban Asthma Coalition. City ordinance mandates that each school receive bi-annual inspections for air quality problems. As of 2003, four inspections per school have been conducted. The most recent results can be found on the BPS website: www.http://boston.k12.ma.us/

11.

Boston Urban Asthma Coalition, MassCOSH, Boston Public Health Commission, and Boston Public Schools. Integrated Pest Management Promoting Healthier and Pest-Free Schools.

12.

Boston Public Schools. Raw Data collected from Pediatric Asthma Surveillance (K–8) Spring 2005.

13.

Ibid.

14.

Boston Public Schools. School Environmental Inspection Report. 2005.

15.

Ibid.

16.

Ibid.

17.

Moonie

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Sterling

D. A.

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Castro

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Asthma status and severity affects missed school days. Journal of School Health. 2006 Jan;76(1): 18–24.

18.

Boston Public Schools. School Environmental Inspection Report. 2005. Reports can be found at the BPS website at www.http://boston.k12.ma.us/

19.

For the raw data, contact the Boston Public Schools Department.