American Lung Association Targets Poor Indoor Air Quality in K-12 Schools

Indoor pollutant levels in classrooms can climb up to 100 times higher than those found outdoors. This exposure to carbon dioxide, mold, and volatile organic compounds frequently triggers asthma flares, chronic fatigue, and reduced cognitive focus among students. For the workforce, these conditions correlate directly with increased absenteeism and diminished productivity.

Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association, notes that schools face a difficult trifecta of aging infrastructure, high occupancy density, and tight operating budgets. To bridge this gap, the program provides technical assistance, peer mentorship, and mini-grants to public, charter, and tribal schools. Beyond health outcomes, the initiative targets energy management—the second-largest expense for districts—to lower fossil fuel dependency and mitigate outdoor ozone pollution. The organization has already partnered with nearly 200 institutions, impacting the daily environment of more than 66,000 children.