The NASUWT-The Teachers’ Union is calling for air quality monitors to be installed in all city schools across Scotland to track levels of air pollution and help improve air quality for children and young people.

Research has established links between air pollution and an adverse impact on children’s growth and brain development.

The Union believes that the installation of air quality monitors, along with air filters inside schools, would help improve air quality and help drive improvements in the health of both pupils and school staff.  

The NASUWT will be making the call for improvements in air quality in and around schools at the STUC Disabled Workers Conference, which is taking place this weekend in Clydebank.
 
 Dr Patrick Roach, NASUWT General Secretary, said:
 
“The pandemic underscored the importance of good ventilation and air quality in helping us to keep well and avoid the spread of illness.

“The introduction of air quality monitors and filters in our schools would be a sound investment in our children’s health and education.”

Mike Corbett, NASUWT National Official Scotland, said:
 
“Air pollution is estimated to be the cause of around 2,500 deaths each year in Scotland and increases the risks of conditions including asthma, heart attacks and strokes.

“Being able to quantify the scale of the problem around our schools is the first step to cleaning up the air we and our children breathe and moving towards a heathier and safer future.”