Air Pollution from Nearby Traffic and Children’s Health: Information for Schools

Scientists have found that motor-vehicle exhaust contains high concentrations of chemicals that can be harmful, including cancer-causing compounds and respiratory irritants. Concentrations of traffic pollutants can be substantially higher near busy roads.

Recent scientific studies from Europe and the United States have found that children living near busy roads have increased asthma symptoms and bronchitis.  OEHHA completed a study of children attending schools in neighborhoods near busy roads in Alameda County and found similar results. A small study of adults in the Netherlands suggests a link between long-term residence near busy roads and increased risk of heart and lung disease.

It makes sense to reduce our exposures to traffic pollution when possible. Schools can play an important role in helping to reduce children’s exposures.

Motor vehicles are part of our every day lives. We breathe air with higher levels of traffic pollutants while:

• Driving in heavy traffic, such as on main city streets and on busy highways/freeways.
• Standing near idling cars, trucks, or buses.
• Spending time at places near roads that have heavy traffic, whether it is at home, school, work, or at play.   Studies have found that places within 500 feet (150 meters) of main city streets, highways, and freeways generally have higher traffic pollutant levels, especially if the location is “downwind” of the road.(“Downwind” means that the wind generally blows from the road towards your location.)

Since children spend a significant part of their day at school, exposures during school-time and in- transit to and from school can be an important part of a child’s overall exposure to traffic pollutants. 

OEHHA recently studied the location of California public schools in relation to major roads.   We found that about 2% of all public schools in California are located within 500 feet (150 meters) of a road with high traffic.  

Not necessarily. The prevailing wind direction strongly affects exposure to air pollution from nearby traffic.  Locations that are both near and “downwind” of a freeway tend to have higher levels of traffic pollution compared with locations that tend to be “upwind” of a freeway. (“Downwind” means that the wind generally blows from the road towards your location.  “Upwind” means that the wind generally blows away from your location, towards the road.)

Other factors include the locations where children spend most of their time while at school; at what time during the day children tend to play outdoors at school; and whether teachers keep doors and windows open during rush hour. 

Schools can take several steps to reduce exposures to air pollution from nearby vehicles:

• Ensure that vehicle operators follow a recent statewide idling rule by ARB that requires the driver of a school bus, transit bus, or other commercial heavy-duty vehicle minimize idling at public and private schools (See ARB website listed in “Resources” for more information).
• Limit idling at loading docks and parking areas.  If possible, avoid locating air-intake vents close to these areas.  If teachers or students smell motor-vehicle exhaust in the classroom, alert school facilities staff to evaluate the situation.
• Develop a school-wide policy to minimize idling of cars at the school, especially during drop-off and pick-up times when many children are congregated nearby.
• Levels of diesel exhaust inside diesel school buses can be high.  Purchase clean, low-emitting buses when replacing old diesel school buses and equip existing buses with exhaust particle filters.  Both the US Environmental Protection Agency and ARB have established programs to help with purchasing clean, low-emitting buses and with cleaning-up existing buses.
• Remember that poor indoor air quality from sources inside the classroom may also contribute to respiratory symptoms.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has a free, easy-to-use kit, “Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools”, to help school officials prevent and resolve indoor air quality problems.

A properly working heating, ventilation, and air condition (HVAC) system will help decrease the amount of outdoor pollution that penetrates indoors.

The HVAC system should receive routine maintenance, especially changing filters.   HVAC systems usually work best when windows and outside doors remain closed.  Ask your school district facilities manager about the guidelines for proper operation and maintenance of the HVAC system in all regular and portable classrooms.

In addition to properly maintaining the ventilation system, schools can:

• Upgrade current HVAC filters to ones with a higher efficiency rating (e.g., 60-90%efficiency compared to the 10-30% standard filter).  Gymnasiums or indoor areas where children exercise and play should be the first priority for placement of good efficiency air filtration systems.
• Close windows and doors during peak traffic hours. Check that there are not any substantial pollutant sources inside the room, as this can lead to poor indoor air quality.
• If possible, conduct outdoor school activities on a part of the campus farther from high traffic roads, especially during peak traffic hours.
• Fix building leaks that allow outdoor air to flow indoors.
• Work with officials to limit truck traffic near schools during school hours if the nearby roads are under local jurisdiction.
• Although sound walls and tree plantings near a busy road may help decrease noise pollution, their effect on lowering traffic emissions is not proven.

No. The HVAC system for your school is designed to provide adequate ventilation.  Turning off the HVAC system will increase levels of indoor air pollutants

Portable air filters equipped with high-efficiency particle or absorbent filters can clean the air of certain pollutants in a small space.  However, they are often noisy, expensive to operate, and may be too small to be effective. Most do not remove pollutant gases, just particles.  

The quietest room air cleaners operate without a fan and use an ionizer or ozone generator. Their effectiveness is often overstated, and some emit hazardous amounts of ozone.  We do not recommend the use of any air cleaners that produce ozone, which is an irritant gas that can damage the lungs.

The California Air Resources Board is working on many strategies to reduce emissions from motor vehicles.  Programs range from developing cleaner fuels to lower tailpipe emissions standards. The State of California has also recently passed legislation requiring that school districts carefully evaluate new proposed school sites for potential exposures to high traffic roads.  

The school environment is just one part of a child’s overall exposure to traffic pollution.  Our fact sheet, “Air Pollution from Nearby Traffic and Children’s Health: Information for Parents”, provides information on what parents can do to reduce exposures in other settings (see “Resources”, in the pdf of this fact sheet).