The price may seem reasonable, but what about the cost?  This week's video continues our exploration of the impact of microplastics, making us all more aware of their cost to human health and the environment.

Watch the video.

To download this video or share it, please view downloadable version of The Hidden Cost of Microplastics.

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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 this guidebook to teach your students and encourage your school to adopt healthy and energy-efficient habits. And spread the word about this ready-made lesson plan!

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Three More Strategies to

Make Common Respiratory Viruses UNcommon

Below, we highlight three additional ways to protect schools from the spread of infectious diseases, building upon recommendations in our last newsletter.

In the coming months, many types of respiratory viruses will threaten the health of indoor occupants at schools—most notably those that cause COVID-19, influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Viruses spread easily indoors because concentrations of viral particles are high and people are in close proximity. Absenteeism from resulting illnesses can dramatically reduce the effectiveness of teachers, administrators, staff, nurses, and other personnel.

A Brief Review

We have already learned about the benefits of increasing ventilation, filtration, and inspection of the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. However, each of these areas varies with building size, age and code specifications, along with construction styles and the complexity of HVAC systems. To determine the optimum volume of air exchange per hour and to ensure effective filtering, professionals can refer to these resources:

• Air Cleaners, HVAC Filters, and Coronavirus (COVID-19) | US EPA)
• ASHRAE - Guidance on COVID-19
• ASHRAE Standard 241 – Control of Infectious Aerosols* and
• Healthy and Green Schools and Colleges Standard 9.22.pdf

*ASHRAE was formerly known as American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Three More Strategies

Operations and maintenance technicians can rely on other strategies for a healthy school, too. Because outdoor air varies in its concentration of pollutants, these parties may choose to supplement facility infrastructure with portable indoor air cleaners, in lieu of bringing in new air. On days when the Air Quality Index exceeds 150, for example, additional indoor air filtration may be preferable, particularly where students and faculty assemble (e.g., cafeterias, auditoriums and classrooms).

Healthy Schools Campaign reports that High Efficiency Portable Air (HEPA) filters in compact air cleaners equilibrate to a MERV 17 rating, capturing particles as small as .3 microns. This superior filtering capacity enables portable units to remove measurably more viruses than the usual MERV (13) counterparts in HVAC systems.

When contagion rates are particularly high, a fifth strategy--occupancy limits--will raise the operative rate of ventilation per person. Administrators can establish and enforce ceilings on the number of students, teachers and staff who gather in distinct types of rooms. Lowering the number of individuals in offices, gyms, cafeterias, and auditoriums, though inconvenient, can boost the effectiveness of existing infrastructure.

A sixth strategy focuses on viral particles transmitted on surfaces, rather than by air.  Surface-based viruses are deposited and then picked up by those who occupy school spaces. Predictably, they are found most often in the places touched most often—doorknobs, faucets, desks, etc. To decrease contamination, surfaces can be cleaned with several types of disinfectants. The best products include ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide, citric acid, lactic acid, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, peroxyacetic acid, and/or sodium bisulfate.

With these six approaches to curtailing respiratory illness—ventilation, filtering, inspection, supplemental air cleaners, occupancy limits, and disinfectants—administrators, personnel, and students can enjoy a healthier learning environment over the fall and winter months.

To learn more, please go to

• Preventing the Spread of Respiratory Viruses in Public Indoor Spaces
• EPA's Press Release
• Ventilation and Respiratory Viruses
• Indoor Air Quality

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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.