Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Are school districts required (under a law) to use the air quality guidance?
No. The air quality guidance was developed as a set of guidelines. It is not a law, mandate or policy. It was designed to help schools use air quality information when deciding whether to restrict outdoor physical activities. School districts have varying policies with regards to using the guidance. Some decisions are made by school principals while others are made at the district level.
2. What is PM2.5?
Particulate matter (PM) refers to very small dust and soot particles. PM2.5 is the term used for particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller in size and are expressed in concentrations. This is so small that several thousand of them could fit on the period at the end of this sentence. The sources of PM2.5 include fuel combustion from automobiles, power plants, wood burning, industrial processes, and diesel powered vehicles. The highest levels of PM2.5 are usually during the winter months.
3. Why was the air quality guidance updated?
Changes were made to the guidance based on new science and experience. The new guidance offers three improvements; 1) It aligns with recommendations from the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Air Standard for PM2.5, 2) It allows greater flexibility in allowing healthy students to benefit from outdoor exercise, and 3) It provides a conservative level of protection when outdoor activities are not recommended for all students.
Data collected by the Utah Department of Health and Utah Department of Environmental Quality over the last three years has shown these changes to be protective while taking benefits of outdoor exercise into account. Feedback from school administrators was taken into account to ensure the new guidance could be reasonably implemented.
4. What do I do if I have a “sensitive” student?
Parents, with the advice of their health care provider, should inform their school if they believe their child is part of a “sensitive” group who should have limited outdoor physical activity when the air quality is poor. Download a sample letter for parents.
5. How does a student with asthma (or other respiratory disease) participate in the program? (i.e. be allowed to stay indoors during recess on poor air quality days.)
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to contact the school nurse and school administration to communicate their student’s health needs. Some schools may require the parent/guardian to complete a health plan so they know when to keep the child indoors.
6. Where can I check the daily air quality?
Air quality conditions are monitored at various sites throughout the state. To check the current PM2.5
levels, visit www.airquality.utah.gov then click on “current conditions.”
7. What school districts or schools have air quality policies?
Not all school districts are affected by air quality. Generally, only those with access to results of air monitoring stations in their areas are able to apply the guidance. These areas include Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Utah and Weber counties.
For school districts in which the gudiance may not apply, administrators can contact their local health department to adapt the guidance to meet their needs.
8. What can schools do promote physical activity to students that stay indoors on poor air quality days?
It is important that students continue to get physical activity on worsening air quality days. North Carolina University has produced a booklet of energizer activities that can be done in the space of a classroom Download the booklet at ww.ncpe4me.com/energizers.html Note: Energizer activities start on page 12.
9. Is the air quality guidance only for schools and local health departments?
Yes. The guidance was developed for schools and local health departments to improve decision-making about outdoor recess. However, the guidance is based on national and Utah-specific research and can be useful for anyone with asthma or other respiratory diseases.
10. What is the difference between health advisories and air action days (“burn days”)?
The air quality standard (35 ug/m3) is the threshold set by the EPA that requires states to impose certain pollution control regulations if exceeded. When pollution levels are between 25 and 35 ug/m3, a “yellow” air action alert is issued to encourage people to keep pollution levels below the standard. A “red” air action alert is issued when pollution levels are higher than the standard.
Health advisories provide the public with precautionary steps that may need to be taken if air pollution levels rise above the health standard. Health advisories fall into five categories according to worsening levels of pollution. As the pollution level increases, the health advisories become more restrictive in limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
11. Is the air inside schools really better than the air outside?
Yes, buildings do bring air in from the outside, but a building's mechanical ventilation system should greatly reduce the indoor concentration levels. A recent research project, at Hawthorne Elementary School in Salt Lake City, showed that indoor air quality was about three times better than outdoor air quality during inversions. In addition, there is a similar project currently being conducted at Greenville Elementary in North Logan. (News release).
12. What can be done to improve the air quality near schools?
Reducing driving and bus idling on worsening air quality days may help. For information on bus idling reduction programs visit epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/index or visit www.cleanair.utah.gov for tips on how to improve the air quality in your community.
13. How many days will poor air quality affect all students?
Keeping all students indoors does not happen very often. For example, during the winter of 2006-07, there were only 4 days at Hawthorne Elementary in Salt Lake City in which PM2.5 levels were above 90 ug/m3. In Ogden there were only 2 days in which PM2.5 levels were above 90 ug/m3.
14. Is the air quality guidance only for schools?
Yes. The guidance was developed for schools and local health departments to help in decision-making about outdoor recess. However, the guidance is based on national and Utah-specific research and can be useful for anyone with asthma or other respiratory diseases.