Microplastics Series

The Most Effective Way to Reduce Microplastics

in Your Home or School - and in Your Body

This week, we continue our series on solutions to the perils of plastics with an additional--and momentous--step toward greatly decreasing the amount of plastics that enter your school or your home. To watch, download or share this video, click on the thumbnail below.

Looking for a Lesson Plan?

Recently, Energy Star, an official website and "ecolabel" of the Environmental Protection Agency, published a new K-12 Energy Efficiency Student Toolkit.

The new toolkit is designed for K-12 students who want to jump-start or enhance their school’s energy management program. Students will learn how to benchmark and understand their school's energy use, conduct an energy efficiency treasure hunt to pinpoint opportunities for improvement, and increase awareness of indoor environmental quality in their school. Follow the guidebook to encourage your school to adopt healthy and energy-efficient habits.

Include this material in your curricula and spread the word!

Common Strategies to

Make Respiratory Viruses UNcommon

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, each year respiratory viruses are responsible for millions of illnesses in the United States. And the Council of Economic Advisors says the increase in student and teacher absenteeism from the spread of illness can account for up to 27% and 45% of post-pandemic test score declines in math and reading.

Many respiratory viruses pose a greater risk when you are inside a building, rather than outdoors, including the COVID-19 virus, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).  Viruses spread more easily indoors for two primary reasons: each person breathes air with more concentrated viral components, and people are often closer to each other--and to a sick person.

On November 1, the EPA updated three strategies for preventing the spread of common respiratory viruses in schools.  For school administrators, increasing ventilation—the amount of air moving in and out of a building—is perhaps the most feasible adaptation. Because ventilation replaces recycled indoor air with new outdoor air, it decreases the concentration of viral particles carried throughout a facility.

Along with ventilation, the EPA recommends filtering more particles from the air.  This means replacing filters routinely and with the highest Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) compatible with your Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. When a system can support MERV 13 filters, facilities should use them.

In a minority of schools, the HVAC system is equipped already to accomplish adequate ventilation and filtering. But all systems demand regular inspections and remediation from building professionals. To improve effectiveness, maintenance should ensure the following:

• unobstructed and unpolluted outdoor air intakes, air supply and return (each room), and ductwork;
• desired pressurization and directional air flow;
• clean drain pans, coils, air handling units, and unit ventilators; and
• functional controls, such as clocks/timers, outdoor air dampers, mixed-air thermostats, economizers, etc.

To learn more about these three strategies for combatting viruses in your organization, please go to

• Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Viruses in Public Indoor Spaces
• Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• ASHRAE - Guidance on COVID-19
• Healthy and Green Schools and Colleges Standard
• EPA's Press Release
• Ventilation and Respiratory Viruses.

A Simple Step to Increase Learning!

Borrow Indoor Air Monitors Without Charge

The Pollution Detectives, Inc. has the expertise and the equipment to help you manage indoor air quality in your organization.

The 501(c)3 nonprofit provides indoor air monitors and technical assistance without charge to schools, fitness centers and healthcare clinics throughout North Carolina. Out of more than 850 sampled locations, it found that 40% possess indoor air conditions that lower learning by at least one letter grade.

The monitors lent by TPD survey for particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and temperature and humidity. Regulating these components of the indoor environment is critical to the performance of teachers, administrators and staff, and to the concentration and academic achievement of students.

If you are interested in borrowing monitors and/or in understanding more about the benefits for your school, visit the website or contact Dr. Francis P. Koster at fkoster@thepollutiondetectives.org.