Mold, rot, and filth: Why your child's school could be making him or her sick

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by: Jonathan Benson, staff writer
Tags: schoolchildren, mold, air quality

(NaturalNews) It is a factor that many parents may not consider, but one that is turning out to play a significant role in aggravating, and potentially even causing, asthma symptoms, respiratory illness, and other chronic illness conditions that often afflict children. Mold, rotting building materials, and general filth at many of the nation's deteriorating public schools appear to be taking a toll on students' health -- and unless parents and school authorities speak up and do something about it now, the problem will only get worse.

A recent CNN report cites the case of a young boy in Connecticut who routinely suffered from headaches, coughing, respiratory infections, and even pneumonia while in school. The young boy reportedly missed 53 days of class during a single school year because of poor indoor air quality, but was reportedly just fine during the summer when he was not in school.

The stark contrast between the boy's persistent lethargy and sickly condition while in school, and his vibrant, energetic, and disease-free condition during the summer, caused his mother to pull him out of school entirely, once she made the connection. And now that the boy is home-schooled, he is reportedly in good health with no more chronic illness symptoms.

You can read the CNN entire report here:
http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/14/health/school-indoor-air-pollution/index.html

Since one in ten American children now has asthma, according the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), parents need to understand the importance of high indoor air quality at their children's schools. Whether it is because of greed and corruption, or just a simple lack of funds, many public schools across the country are in terrible disrepair, and the long-term health consequences are especially devastating for young students.

Several studies conducted in both New York and Massachusetts, for instance, have identified a clear link between schools in unhealthy disrepair, and the number of students that had to be hospitalized for asthma symptoms. Unmitigated mold growing as a result of leaky roofs and windows, rampant insect and rodent infestation in walls, and lack of proper sanitary maintenance, were all found to be contributors to elevated rates of asthma and other illnesses among students and teachers.

"It takes a lot to make you sick, but it takes very little exposure once you're sensitized to provoke symptoms," said Dr. John Santilli, a Connecticut allergist, to CNN concerning poor indoor air quality at some schools. "As time goes on, it takes more and more out of you, and you get sicker and sicker."

Sources for this article include:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/14/health/school-indoor-air-pollution/index.html

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/publications/moldfactsheet.pdf

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-10-17/health/os-epa-mold-florida-schools-day1-20101016_1_mold-buildup-air-quality-humid-states