the Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI), a unit of UL Research Institutes,we conduct research to advance understanding of indoor air quality (IAQ) issues and the associated human health risks as well as provide educational resources with practto help the general public and professionals across industries mitigate pollutant exposure.
With nearly one half of schools in the U.S. having problems linked to IAQ, school nurses are in a key position to identify and address health risks stemming from IAQ issues that could impact students and staff. This is particularly important in school settings due to the presence of risk populations, such as children with asthma or other respiratory conditions and older adult staff. In recent years, wildfires, extreme heat events, and other environmental disasters have increasingly affected school environments, introducing smoke, dust, and other pollutants that can compromise IAQ.
Wildfires in the wildland urban interface (WUI), where the built environment and natural vegetation meet or intermix, the burning of building materials, electronics, and other consumer goods, creating a complex emissions profile of pollutants. Since wildfire plumes can travel up to hundreds of miles away, WUI fire emissions can bring high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), and particulate matter (PM) into unsuspecting communities.
Extreme heat is another growing public health challenge, as evidenced by 2024 being the warmest year on record. In one of our studies on this topic, common building materials were exposed to elevated temperatures and were found to off gas some VOCs and aldehydes at an increased level.
Exposure to emissions resulting from wildfires and extreme heat can have acute and even chronic health effects, depending on multiple . Safeguarding IAQ is critical to protect school population health as well as promote well-being. Poor IAQ leads to increased absenteeism for students and staff, increased respiratory illnesses, lower productivity and motivation, lower test scores and slower learning, and higher medical costs.
In our session at NASN2025, “Understanding the Impact of Wildfires and Extreme Heat on School Student and Staff Health,” our presenters, including a school nurse, will outline specific health risks of wildfires and extreme heat on students and school staff; identify potential exposure routes for pollutants in school buildings; and highlight resources offered by wildfire and human health experts to support community resilience.
Please join us on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.