Abstract
BackgroundWhile the indoor environmental quality of classrooms is a potential issue because it may affect the wellbeing of school children, the relations are still poorly studied. This study aimed to investigate the relations between classroom characteristics and health and comfort of school children. Material and methodsA questionnaire was distributed among 1311 school children (8–12 years old, average 10) of 54 classrooms at 21 schools in The Netherlands. Additionally, the survey included an inspection of the school and its installations and an inspection of the classrooms surveyed using checklists, and monitoring of some environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentration) in the classrooms. ResultsAmong the children studied, 87% was bothered by noise, 63% by smells, 42% by sunlight when shining, 35% didn't like the temperature in the classroom (too cold or too warm) and 34% experienced temperature changes. Main diseases reported comprised of allergies (26%), rhinitis (17%), hay fever (16%) and eczema (16%). Health and comfort in non-traditional schools was better than in the traditional schools studied (A non-traditional school is a school in which the way of educating children is different from the traditional way of education, according to a different educational theory). Physical building characteristics of the classrooms studied in the traditional schools were associated with the Classroom Symptom Index (location of school building, heating system, solar devices hampering opening windows or ventilation) and the Classroom Comfort Index (ventilation type, window frame colour, floor material and vacuum cleaning frequency). ConclusionsMeasures to improve acoustical, air, and thermal conditions of children in classrooms are needed. More research is required on the use of different lighting systems and use of different colours in classrooms.
Highlights
The classroom is a place where most children spend more time than any other place but home
Among the children studied, 87% was bothered by noise, 63% by smells, 42% by sunlight when shining, 35% didn't like the temperature in the classroom and 34% experienced temperature changes
87% were bothered by noise, 63% by smells, 42% by sunlight when shining, 35% didn't like the temperature in the classroom and 34% experienced temperature changes
Summary
The classroom is a place where most children spend more time than any other place but home. At national level (for example in Sweden [9], the Netherlands [10], the UK [11], Greece [12], Finland [13], Denmark [14], Portugal [15], Australia [16], Japan [17] and in China [18]), health effects were assessed by using self-administered questionnaires (in a few medical examination, performance tests or absence ratings), combined with indoor environmental monitoring of several air pollutant concentrations, inspection of buildings with the use of a checklist and/or several physical measurements (e.g. temperature and relative humidity) Those studies identified a number of problems related to the indoor environment in classrooms, that are likely to have an effect on health. More research is required on the use of different lighting systems and use of different colours in classrooms
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