Kids grow
and learn better
in pollution-free
schools
vvEPA
EPA910-N-11-001
May 2011
EPA Region 10 Healthy Schools Team
Washington • Oregon • Idaho • Alaska
Ready for Summer!
Although it might not feel like it yet, it's almost time for summer in the Pacific
Northwest and Alaska. While our students and staff are enjoying a well-
deserved break from school, many of you will be working on renovations, doing
maintenance, and thinking about how quickly the new school year will be here.
This edition of Healthy School News is full of learning opportunities such as
webinars and conferences that will help you make informed decisions about
creating healthy school environments. We hope the information here is useful and
are always happy to hear how the newsletter can be improved or about topics of
interest. Have a great end of school year and happy summer!
Sincerely,
Margo Young, EPA Region 10
Children's Environmental Health
Coordinator
young.margo@epa.gov or 206-553-1287
^ EPA's Healthy School
v Environments
Portal
In This Issue
May is Asthma Awareness
Month
Beware of "Friable" Asbestos
and Take Action
President's Environmental
Youth Award Winner from
Washington!
Are you Remodeling,
Repairing, or Painting this
summer?
What's Happening In Your
State
Learning Opportunities for
Healthy Schools
Bed Bugs: What Can You Do?
Simple strategies for the classroom and beyond
Your school district should have an action plan in place in case of a bed bug problem.
In the classroom, you can help by planning ahead and being prepared. Monitor for
bed bugs regularly, especially in trouble-prone areas such as lost and found piles,
donations, and areas for storing personal items such as coats, bags, and backpacks.
1. REDUCE CLUTTER!!! Clutter provides hiding places and shelter for a wide range
of problem pests. Cardboard boxes in particular are VERY attractive to many
pests.
2. Seal cracks and crevices and choose classroom furnishings carefully.
3. DON'T use upholstered furniture in the classroom. Floor pillows, mats, and other
fabric items should be laundered regularly and dried in a hot dryer.
4. Provide separate lidded tubs for storing students' personal items. Backpacks and
coats are a great way for bed bugs to spread. Lost and found collections should
also be stored in lidded plastic tubs whenever possible.
5. Vacuum thoroughly and regularly.
More information can be found here: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/swfa/upest/
fact sheets/PP4BedbugsSpring2011 .pdf
(Used with permission from Washington State University Extension)
Region 10 EPA contact: Juliann Barta, 206-553-1495, barta.juliann@epa.gov
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Healthy School News
Page 2
May 2011
May is Asthma Awareness Month
Asthma is a serious, life-threatening respiratory
disease that affects over 25 million Americans,
including 7 million children. Rates of asthma
have risen sharply over the past thirty years,
particularly among children ages 5 to 14. This
month, EPA recommends these steps:
• Take smoking outside. One of the most
common asthma triggers is secondhand smoke.
Make your home and car smoke-free and do
not smoke around children.
• Play it Safe. Ozone and particle pollution can
cause asthma attacks. Schools should watch
the Air Quality Index (AQI) and limit outdoor
activities during poor air quality days.
• Reduce exposure to dust mites. Dust mites like
stuffed furniture, blankets, and soft materials.
Try to limit these items in the classroom and
wash items once a week in hot water or place in
the freezer to kill mites.
• Control animal allergens. When possible, keep
pets out of the classroom and use integrated
pest management (IPM) to control cockroaches
and pests. More information on school IPM can
be found here: http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/
ipm/
• Clean up mold and control moisture. School
personnel should wash and dry hard surfaces
to prevent and remove mold, and should
replace moldy ceiling tiles and carpet.
Check out EPA's asthma websites for more
information:
http://www.epa.gov/asthma/
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/espanol/asma.html
Region 10 EPA contact: Susan Titus, 206-553-
1189, titus.susan@epa.gov
Beware of
Action
'Friable" Asbestos and Take
ASTHMA
Nomnal Airway
Airway in Person
with Asthma
Exposure to
asbestos
increases your
risk of
developing lung
disease.
The most important asbestos
problem occurs when
asbestos becomes "friable",
i.e. easily crushed by hand
pressure, thereby releasing
asbestos fibers into the air.
The fibers are too small to
see, so in most cases you
wouldn't even know you are
breathing them. EPA does
not recommend removing
asbestos unless it has become friable, so the presence of
asbestos in your schools does not automatically require
asbestos abatement.
The best way to protect your students from asbestos
exposure is to know where
asbestos is located in your
school buildings, to maintain
these materials in good (non-
friable) condition, and to remove
any friable asbestos materials
you become aware of. Only
a certified Asbestos Building
Inspector or certified Asbestos
Risk Assessor can determine
whether you have asbestos
in your school buildings and
whether the asbestos materials
have become friable. Find your
most recent asbestos building
inspection report and use it to
lassess the condition of asbestos in your buildings. If such a
report does not exist or is seriously out of date, you need to
seek out professional assistance.
* Read EPA's "Asbestos in Schools" website: http://www.
epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/asbestos_in_schools.html for
more information.
* Perform a self-audit to determine if your schools are in
compliance with the AHERA Asbestos Management
Plan rules: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/
ampauditchecklist.pdf.
* Use the self-study guide to learn more: http://www.epa.
gov/region2/ahera/e23.pdf.
All of these learning materials are free and can be duplicated
without infringing any copyrights. If you need to hire an
asbestos professional, search for "asbestos training
professionals" in your favorite search engine; the training
firms can help you sort out the types of specialties you may
need. You can also contact Wally Reid at reid.wallace@epa.
gov. or 206-553-6378.
DANGER
ASBESTOS
CANCER AND LUNG
DISEASE HAZARD.
AUTHORIZED
PERSONNEL ONLY.
RESPIRATORS AND
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
ARE REQUIRED
IN THIS ARE'
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Healthy School News
PageS
May 2011
President's Environmental Youth Award Winner from Washington!
On Monday, April 25, EPA Region 10 presented the
President's Environmental Youth Award to the Green
Team at the Tahoma Senior
High School in Covington, WA.
Cort Hammond, a senior, started
the school's first environmental
club in 2008 and by the end of
the second year, the school's
garbage output had been
decreased from 100 to 60
cubic yards per week, saving
the school $24,000 in landfill expenses. In addition,
the club has brought recycling, conservation, and
community involvement to the high school. Other
projects include an Adopt-a-Road program, Styrofoam
recycling, restoration projects, energy reduction Cort Hammond, Clare Nance (teacher) and members of the
program, community OUtreach, and lunchroom food Tahoma Senior High School Green Team. EPA's Linda Anderson-
waste collection. Congratulations! Camaham sitting in left row front with award winners.
Are you Remodeling, Repairing, or Painting this Summer?
If you are remodeling, repairing, or painting your pre-1978 school this summer, there is a chance you will encounter
lead paint. These tasks often generate dust, and if not managed properly can lead to the inhalation of lead dust
by students and staff. There are specific lead-safe work practices that are required for kindergartens, day care
centers, and any other school location where children between 0 and 5 years old routinely go. To learn more:
http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf
To get training: http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_training.htm
To find lead-safe certified firms: http://cfpub.epa.gov/flpp/searchrrp_firm.htm
NEW EPA RULE:
ALL CONTRACTORS NEED TO GET LEAD-SAFE CERTIFIED.
FIND AN ACCREDITED TRAINER NEAR YOU »
Encourage Your Students to Get Outside this Summer!
Here are some terrific resources for outdoor learning and environmental and sustainability education.
WASHINGTON OREGON IDAHO
Environmental
Education Association
of Washington
E3 Washington
Education -
Environment - Economy
Environmental
Education Association
of Oregon
Sustainable Oregon
Schools Initiative
Idaho Environmental
Education Association
ALASKA
Alaska Natural
Resource and Outdoor
Education
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Healthy School News
Page 4
May 2011
What's Happening In Your State
Alaska
Alaska Youth for Environmental Action (AYEA)
is a youth-led leadership and civic action
program of the National Wildlife Federation.
Teens from rural and urban communities
around Alaska create campaigns and projects
to raise awareness and chance policy at the
local and state level. This year AYEA teens
created a campaign to celebrate and protect
Wild Alaska Salmon by
organizing a statewide
Wild Salmon Day,
collecting signatures
on pledge cards, and
travelling to Juneau and
Washington DC. You can
get involved by coming
to a leadership training
or by organizing right in
your own community!
Find out more at www.
ALASKA
YOUTHfor
ENVIRONMENTAL
ACTION
ayea.org.
Oregon
June 21, 2011
Sustainable Schools - Sustainable Solutions
Conference, Engaging Students to Meet the
Essential Skills, taking place at Gladstone High
School, just south of Portland, Oregon.
Featured speaker Jaimie Cloud from the
Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education and
Oregon teachers, administrators and board
members will deepen your understanding of
Education for Sustainability, systems thinking
and how to integrate them into your districts,
schools and classrooms for success and in
support of Oregon's Essential Skills.
Contact: Lori Stole, lstole@zerowaste.org or
503-307-4067
Idaho
On May 6th, Idaho groups for early learning hosted the Eco
Healthy Child Care Training Workshop. The science-based
and award-winning Eco-Healthy Child Care® Train the Trainer
session prepared staff from health departments, Idaho State
Licensing, Head Start Education Program Managers and Child
Care Health Consultant health care professionals to share
low-cost and no-cost methods and resources with child care
providers so that they can provide a healthier environment for
the children in their care.
Washington
Hazards on the Homefront Teacher Guide and Free
Workshops
The Hazards on the Homefront Teacher guide, originally
developed by King County and updated with support from
Department of Ecology, contains hands-on lessons about
how household hazardous products affect our health and the
environment and how proper disposal of these products and
the use of safer alternatives can help protect us. The lessons
encourage students to apply academic skills and subjects
to real-life situations and address grade level standards in
science, health, and communication. Two versions of the
guide are available—one for teachers of grades 6-12 and one
for teachers of grades 4-6 and can be downloaded from the
Washington Department of Ecology Web site.
Free teacher workshops are currently scheduled for King
County teachers on August 9 (grades 4-6) or August 10
(grades 6-12) in Renton with an optional half-day and tour
of King County's South Wastewater Treatment Plant on
August 11. Clock hours and college credit are offered. For
more information, visit http://vour.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/
education/hazwaste.asp.
Join the New Northwest Kids Environmental Health Group
Listserv!
Join this listserv to have share and access information on
children's environmental health research, events, grant
opportunities, and more. To join, go to http://www.ecy.wa.gov/
maillist.html. Scroll down to Environmental Education and click
on Northwest Kids Environmental Health Group. You will need
to sign up in order to see the archives, and more importantly, to
post and receive messages.
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Healthy School News
Pages
May 2011
Learning Opportunities for Healthy Schools
Washington State Asthma Summit - Free!
May 20, 2011, Tukwila, WA
Washington Healthy Schools Summit
May 24-25, 2011
Seattle Airport Marriott, Seattle, WA
Please contact Carolyn Kramer for more information: carolyn@treeswing.org, 206-436-5092. Registration: May
3-May 16, 2011: $130 for one day and $240 for 2 days. Up to 10 free clock hours!
Creating a Green Chemistry Roadmap for Washington State
May 25-26, 2011
The Boeing Company, Renton, WA
Please contact Paula Del Giudice with questions. No cost to attend but registration is required. Food and drink
provided. Green Chemistry is a revolutionary approach to the way products are made. It aims to use safer
chemicals and develop processes that are environmentally benign, economical, and function the same as or
better than their toxic alternatives.
The workshop will pull together leaders from business, academia, non-profits, and government to help craft
and shape a strategic vision for advancing green chemistry in Washington state.
National Asthma Forum
June 9-10, 2011
Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC.
The National Asthma Forum provides a venue for dedicated asthma care leaders to learn the latest strategies
and best practices in delivering high quality asthma care from experts and peers. Some of the highest
performing asthma programs in the world will be at the National Asthma Forum to explore how asthma
programs can be the leaders in helping communities bridge environmental gaps and deliver comprehensive
health care.
Registration Fee: $235.00. This fee covers the cost of meals provided during this event.
The 2011 Communities in Action National Asthma Forum registration is open.
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Healthy School News
Page 6
May 2011
Learning Opportunities for Healthy Schools
Who's in Charge of Environmental Health at
Schools?
May 10,2011 2:00pm EOT
Session Description: Children spend many hours
each week in and around school buildings. Their
short- and long-term health outcomes and ability
to learn are affected by numerous environmental
factors related to the school buildings, the school
grounds, the school transportation system, and the
use of various products and materials in and around
the school. Many school buildings are old and they-
and even newer buildings-can contain multiple
environmental health hazards. While some districts
self-report they have environmental health policies in
place, no independent verification of these policies
or their quality exists. Teachers and other adult
staff are afforded some protections from hazards
by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) regulations, employment contracts, or
occupational health services. But children who are
more vulnerable to hazards than adults are not
provided these protections.
Major environmental problems include: indoor air
quality, lighting, pests and pesticides, heavy metals
and chemical management issues, renovation of
occupied buildings, noise, and cleaning processes
and products. No federal or state agency is charged
with ensuring children's health and safety in and
around school buildings. No systematic means exists
for collecting data about exposures that occur in the
school setting.
Speakers: Jerome A. Paulson, MD, FAAP, Associate
Professor of Pediatrics & Public Health at George
Washington University.
Register: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/
register/526925730
An Update for School Nurses in School-based
Asthma Management
May 16, 2011, 2:30pm-3:30pm EOT
The American School Health Association is
sponsoring the "Asthma Control: Are you doing
YOUR Part? An Update for School Nurses in School-
based Asthma Management." The webinar will
provide school nurses with information on the six
guidelines-based priority messages from the National
Asthma Education and Prevention Program's
(NAEPP) Guidelines Implementation Panel (GIP)
Report, as well as advances in school-based asthma
management and techniques to overcome barriers to
controlling asthma in the school setting.
Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/
register/618838166
Safely Managing Chemical Spills and Disposal in
the Educational Environment
May 11, 12pm EOT
From the classroom to the custodial supply room,
properly managing chemicals requires a proactive
plan for safely containing and cleaning up chemical
spills, both from accidents and deteriorating
chemical containers. Additionally, you must utilize
a thorough chemical waste storage and disposal
program that protects students, teachers, staff and
the environment from the dangers of hazardous
chemicals. Join an interactive, 75-minute webcast
to hear industry experts from the North American
Hazardous Materials Management Association.
Flinn Scientific and WC Environmental discuss
best practices for managing chemical spills, from
absorption and containment to cleanup and disposal.
You will also learn fundamentals for safely storing
chemical waste and properly disposing of chemicals
that are spilled, old or unused.
Speakers: Dave Waddell - North American
Hazardous Materials Management Association,
Dr. Irene Cesa - Flinn Scientific Incorporated, Russ
Phifer-WC Environmental, LLC, Roger Young-
K12Masters.com, Justin Turner - SchoolDude.com
Register: https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/
display.do?udc=1odnxctppo7j
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Healthy School News
Page 7
May 2011
Improving your School's Air: Integrated Pest
Management and Green Cleaning
May 10, 3:30 MDT
Session Description: Two of the biggest culprits of
toxics and pollutants in our schools are the cleaning
products we use and the effects of having and
dealing with unwelcome pests. Poor indoor air quality
is linked to sick students, teachers, and staff as well
as poor academic and work performance. Join us for
a practical approach to 1) choosing safer cleaning
products and systems and 2) reducing pests and the
use of pesticides. Develop a green cleaning program
in 5 steps and prevent pests using successful, cost-
effective, and least-toxic methods.
Speakers: VelRey Lozano - EPA, Myla Kelly - Peaks
to Prairies
Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/
register/241900942
Toxic Chemicals in Your School: School
Chemical Cleanout, Polvchlorinated Biphenyls,
Lead, and Asbestos
May 17, 3:30 MDT
Session Description: The Environmental Protection
Agency, Region 8 has made toxic chemical
management in Indian Country schools a priority. The
primary objective is to make Indian Country Schools
safer for school children. Exposure to toxic chemicals
can result in short term and long term adverse health
effects for students, teachers, and staff. Join us for
a discussion of voluntary and regulatory programs
related to School Chemical Cleanout, polychlorinated
biphenyls, lead and asbestos. Basic steps to make
your school healthier for students, teachers, and staff
will be provided.
Speakers: Matt Langenfeld - EPA, Jim Maley - EPA
Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/
register/959550846
Reducing your Footprint - Energy Conservation
and Waste Reduction
May 24, 3:30 MDT
Session Description: Energy efficiency in any
building, especially schools, is critical to saving costs
and for the well being of the planet. This can occur
through lighting improvements, control upgrades, and
a variety of other simple, and some more complex,
techniques. Decreasing paper consumption,
changing lunch policies, implementing basic recycling
systems, and properly disposing of E-Waste and
mercury also can help you cut costs and reduce
waste. We'll share local success stories on all these
issues, share the latest advances in energy efficient
techniques, and give practical strategies to reduce
your school's waste and lower your costs.
Speakers: Myla Kelly - Peaks to Prairies, Tim Tolman
- McKinstry
Register: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/
register/607865222
Healthy School NEWS is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10. Region 10 includes the states
of Washington, Idaho, Alaska and Oregon and the tribes within those boundaries. For general information about school
environmental health or to provide feedback on this newsletter, please contact Margo Young at young.margo@epa.gov. To
be added or removed from the distribution list, please email pollow.george@epa.gov with your request. Contact Region 10's
Public Environmental Resource Center, the education, publication and information gateway to EPA's Region 10 Office, for free
publications and educational resources for your school. Call at (800) 424-4EPA or email epa-seattle@epa.gov.
EPA Environmental Education: www.epa.gov/enviroed/
EPA Children's Environmental Health: www.epa.gov/children
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