Nisha Pandey

Are Children Breathing Clean Air Inside Classrooms? New European Study Raises Concern

Are your kids completely safe inside the classroom? A new study has raised concerns about the air quality in classrooms, particularly the bacteria that could result in reduced <span>lung function</span> in children. 

Recent research presented at the <span>European Respiratory Society</span> (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain intended to ensure that schools have completely healthy environments for children, particularly their developing lungs. 

<h2>Classrooms Have High Levels Of Two Harmful Bacteria Groups </h2>

The study was presented by Dr. Soutrik Banerjee from the Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, <span>University of Ferrara</span>, Italy, and French technology company, Alten S.A. 

Researchers from the University of Ferrara in Italy and French technology company Alten analysed data from the SINPHONIE project, which examined indoor environmental conditions in multiple schools across Europe. 

The analysis is based on nearly 300 classrooms across 22 European countries. Researchers measured the levels of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/leptospirosis-cases-surge-in-manila-after-floods-what-to-know-article-156121295" data-type="tilCustomLink">Streptomyces and Mycobacterium</a> in classroom dust and compared this with <span>lung</span> function in children using spirometry, a standard test to measure breathing and respiration health. 

The researchers adjusted their analysis for several factors that could affect lung function, including children's age, sex, body mass index, exposure to second-hand smoke, pet allergens, socioeconomic factors, age of the school building, region and local outdoor air pollution. 

They found that children in classrooms with higher levels of Streptomyces had a 0.08-litre lower forced vital capacity (FVC).

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/6-year-old-australian-kid-dies-from-rarely-seen-19th-century-disease-why-is-scurvy-still-a-risk-today-article-156036144" data-type="tilCustomLink">6-Year-Old Australian Kid Dies From Rarely Seen ‘19th Century Disease’: Why Is Scurvy Still A Risk Today?</a>

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/25-years-after-9-11-what-new-records-reveal-about-toxic-air-in-new-york-article-156121508" data-type="tilCustomLink">FVC</a> measures the maximum amount of air a person can forcefully breathe out after taking a deep breath. A lower value can indicate that the lungs are not able to hold or expel as much air as they ideally should. 

Meanwhile, higher levels of Mycobacterium were associated with a 0.06-litre lower FEV₁ and a 0.13-litre-per-second lower peak expiratory flow (PEF). FEV₁ measures how much air can be exhaled in the first second of a forceful breath, while PEF measures the fastest rate at which air can be expelled. 

Dr Banerjee told the Congress, “We know that indoor air quality in schools can be affected by pollutants, humidity, ventilation, temperature, dampness and biological agents like fungi and bacteria. However, much less is known about whether the types of bacteria growing in classroom dust are linked to children’s lung function.” 

“We were particularly interested in two bacterial groups, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium spp., which are found in soil, dust and water systems. We wanted to see whether higher exposure to these bacteria in the classroom is associated with children’s lung health across Europe.”

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/parenting/us-newborns-are-missing-a-crucial-vitamin-k-shot-which-can-lead-to-brain-bleeding-article-156027899" data-type="tilCustomLink">US Newborns Are Missing A Crucial Vitamin K Shot Which Can Lead To Brain Bleeding</a> 

<h2>How Dangerous Are These Bacteria?</h2>

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Both Streptomyces and Mycobacterium are present widespread in the environment. They are found in soil, dust and water systems. The study did not show that children developed a bacterial disease because of classroom exposure.

Instead, researchers are investigating whether exposure to the bacteria could influence the airways and thereby their <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/pm2-5-and-cancer-risk-practical-ways-to-protect-yourself-in-indias-polluted-cities-article-156046158" data-type="tilCustomLink">lung function</a>. 

One possibility is that they could irritate the respiratory tract or activate immune and inflammatory pathways. Another is that the bacteria may simply be markers of other problems inside a classroom, like excess moisture, poor ventilation, inadequate cleaning or outdoor dust entering the building. 

Dr Soutrik Banerjee, from the University of Ferrara, said: “The bacteria may either have a direct biological effect, or they may be indicators of other indoor environmental factors that influence lung function.”

A small reduction in a lung function measurement does not automatically mean that a child has lung disease. Lung function naturally varies between children according to age, height, sex and other factors. The differences reported in this study were modest for individual children, according to the researchers. 

However, Banerjee said the findings could still matter at a population level because children are repeatedly exposed to school environments. “Children are exposed to school indoor environments every weekday, and a mild to moderate reduction in lung function today may be a precursor to preventable <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/living-in-polluted-cities-a-hepa-air-purifier-may-not-only-keep-your-lungs-healthy-but-also-boost-brain-function-article-156019699" data-type="tilCustomLink">lung disease</a> in later life,” he said. 

The European Respiratory Society specifically cautioned against taking extreme measures like sterilising classrooms. 

Professor Alexander Möller, Head of the ERS Paediatric Assembly and Professor of Paediatric Pulmonology at the University Children's Hospital Zurich, who was not involved in the study, said: “The practical message is not that schools should become sterile environments.” 

But he pointed that adequate ventilation, control of dampness and mould, regular cleaning and proper building maintenance could help. 

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Are your kids completely safe inside the classroom? A new study has raised concerns about the air quality in classrooms, particularly the bacteria that could result in reduced lung function in children. Recent research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain intended to ensure that schools have completely healthy environments for children, particularly their developing lungs. Classrooms Have High Levels Of Two Harmful Bacteria Groups The study was presented by Dr. Soutrik Banerjee from the Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy, and French technology company, Alten S.A. Researchers from the University of Ferrara in Italy and French technology company Alten analysed data from the SINPHONIE project, which examined indoor environmental conditions in multiple schools across Europe. The analysis is based on nearly 300 classrooms across 22 European countries. Researchers measured the levels of Streptomyces and Mycobacterium in classroom dust and compared this with lung function in children using spirometry, a standard test to measure breathing and respiration health. The researchers adjusted their analysis for several factors that could affect lung function, including children's age, sex, body mass index, exposure to second-hand smoke, pet allergens, socioeconomic factors, age of the school building, region and local outdoor air pollution. They found that children in classrooms with higher levels of Streptomyces had a 0.08-litre lower forced vital capacity (FVC).Also read: 6-Year-Old Australian Kid Dies From Rarely Seen ‘19th Century Disease’: Why Is Scurvy Still A Risk Today?What Is Forced Vital Capacity? FVC measures the maximum amount of air a person can forcefully breathe out after taking a deep breath. A lower value can indicate that the lungs are not able to hold or expel as much air as they ideally should. Meanwhile, higher levels of Mycobacterium were associated with a 0.06-litre lower FEV₁ and a 0.13-litre-per-second lower peak expiratory flow (PEF). FEV₁ measures how much air can be exhaled in the first second of a forceful breath, while PEF measures the fastest rate at which air can be expelled. Dr Banerjee told the Congress, “We know that indoor air quality in schools can be affected by pollutants, humidity, ventilation, temperature, dampness and biological agents like fungi and bacteria. However, much less is known about whether the types of bacteria growing in classroom dust are linked to children’s lung function.” “We were particularly interested in two bacterial groups, Streptomyces and Mycobacterium spp., which are found in soil, dust and water systems. We wanted to see whether higher exposure to these bacteria in the classroom is associated with children’s lung health across Europe.”Also read: US Newborns Are Missing A Crucial Vitamin K Shot Which Can Lead To Brain Bleeding How Dangerous Are These Bacteria?         Both Streptomyces and Mycobacterium are present widespread in the environment. They are found in soil, dust and water systems. The study did not show that children developed a bacterial disease because of classroom exposure.Instead, researchers are investigating whether exposure to the bacteria could influence the airways and thereby their lung function. One possibility is that they could irritate the respiratory tract or activate immune and inflammatory pathways. Another is that the bacteria may simply be markers of other problems inside a classroom, like excess moisture, poor ventilation, inadequate cleaning or outdoor dust entering the building. Dr Soutrik Banerjee, from the University of Ferrara, said: “The bacteria may either have a direct biological effect, or they may be indicators of other indoor environmental factors that influence lung function.”A small reduction in a lung function measurement does not automatically mean that a child has lung disease. Lung function naturally varies between children according to age, height, sex and other factors. The differences reported in this study were modest for individual children, according to the researchers. However, Banerjee said the findings could still matter at a population level because children are repeatedly exposed to school environments. “Children are exposed to school indoor environments every weekday, and a mild to moderate reduction in lung function today may be a precursor to preventable lung disease in later life,” he said. How Can This Be Prevented?The European Respiratory Society specifically cautioned against taking extreme measures like sterilising classrooms. Professor Alexander Möller, Head of the ERS Paediatric Assembly and Professor of Paediatric Pulmonology at the University Children's Hospital Zurich, who was not involved in the study, said: “The practical message is not that schools should become sterile environments.” But he pointed that adequate ventilation, control of dampness and mould, regular cleaning and proper building maintenance could help. 

are children breathing clean air inside classrooms? new european study raises concern

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