A scoping review of review on school indoor air quality and respiratory health in schoolchildren: Evidence available,key concepts and knowledge gaps

Abstract

The impact of air pollution in crowded indoor environments, such as schools, has received considerable interest over the past decades. Classrooms are environment where children, one of the most vulnerable population groups, spend a lot of their time and poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can negatively affect their respiratory health. Several reviews in literature address the topic of IAQ, but there is scarce evidence focusing specifically on the challenges posed by school environment on childhood respiratory health. Following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist, systematic research was conducted in Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. 15 narrative reviews and systematic reviews were included, selected according to specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. The collected information about the consequences of indoor air pollutants on breathing health of children always reported a worsening of respiratory symptoms (cough, wheeze, irritation of the respiratory tract, viral respiratory infections) related to respiratory allergies and diseases, such as asthma. The evidence highlights the need for targeted mitigation strategies and policies to reduce pollutant levels in schools. These strategies should consider building design, ventilation systems and maintenance practices, thereby minimizing the short- and long-term adverse effects and protecting children's respiratory health.