Editor’s choice
Editor’s choice
part of Indoor air quality
Particulate matter (PM) is linked to multiple negative health impacts, especially PM2.5 (PM smaller than 2.5 μm), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Children are even more vulnerable to these impacts as they breathe in more air relative to their size than adults. The authors of this paper analysed concentrations of PM2.5 in UK schools, using data gathered by the SAMHE (Schools’ Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education) project.
Primary school classroom.
Photo: 10’000 Hours / Getty Images
Children spend around 30% of their time in schools. Given their vulnerability to the impacts of air pollution, understanding the state of air quality in schools is important to enhance health and education outcomes.
The authors of this paper analysed the concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 from monitors deployed by the SAMHE project to 490 schools across the UK throughout the academic year 2023–24.
Project / A citizen science project monitoring indoor air, created with and for UK schools.
Other publication / This two-page brief brings together SAMHE's findings and other evidence on air quality in UK schools and makes recommendations for policy and practice.
Journal article / The SAMHE Web App was co-designed with schools to ensure maximum acceptance and engagement by teachers and pupils, as this is critical to the project's success.
Journal article / The SAMHE project introduces a novel method to generate and analyze extensive datasets via collaborative citizen science methods, in this case with UK schools.
