Chemicals

Chemical management creates a more healthy atmosphere for school occupants and the surrounding environment. Purchasing safer alternatives to toxic substances is one method of chemical pollution prevention. Proper storage, use, and disposal of chemicals is another key to maintaining healthy schools.

For more information on Chemicals, visit:

Pollution Prevention
The Pollution Prevention (P2) web site provides general information about P2 practices, the various source reduction programs and initiatives administered by EPA and other organizations, and provides contacts for further information.

Featured Chemicals Resources:

Indoor Air Quality Design Tools for Schools
Indoor air quality is a critically important aspect of creating and maintaining healthy school facilities. IAQ Design Tools for Schools will help school districts find the information resources they need to design, construct and renovate school facilities that will support the schools core mission of educating children.
Source: EPA - Office of Air and Radiation - Indoor Environments Division
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schooldesign/

Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT)
HealthySEAT is a new software tool from EPA designed to help school districts conduct voluntary, customized self-assessments of their school facilities for environmental, health, and safety hazards.
Source: EPA - Office of Air and Radiation - Indoor Environments Division
http://www.epa.gov/schools

Reducing Pesticide Exposure at Schools
This September 2007 publication from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and health explains how exposures and potential health risks to children and school staff can be reduced by avoiding routine pesticide applications through an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2007-150/

NCEF- Healthy School Environments Resource List
National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities resource list of links, books, and journal articles on environmentally safe and healthy school buildings.
Source: National Institute of Building Sciences - National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/healthy_schools.cfm

Environmental Compliance and Best Management Practices Guidance Manual
This comprehensive environmental manual is available on-line in both English and Spanish.
Source: EPA - Region 2
http://www.epa.gov/region02/children/k12/

Environmental Health and Safety in the Arts
This environmental health and safety manual covers art education and production. This manual is available on-line in both English and Spanish.
Source: EPA - Region 2
http://www.epa.gov/region02/children/k12/artpdf.htm

Mercury in Schools
This Web site describes the University of Wisconsin's Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center (SHWEC) Mercury in Schools Project that provides school and agency staff with the information and tools needed to reduce or eliminate mercury in schools. This site specifically describes why it is important to focus on schools as a source of mercury.
Source: University of Wisconsin - Extension Service
http://www.mercuryinschools.uwex.edu/

Pennsylvania Green Building Operations and Maintenance Manual
This manual for environmentally preferable operation and maintenance of government buildings and associated grounds is designed to help carry out the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Executive Order 1998-1 to "incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into [Executive Agencies'] ... operations."
Source: Pennsylvania Department of General Services' Property Management
http://www.dgs.state.pa.us/dgs/cwp/view.asp?Q=118184&A=363

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Improving Environmental Conditions in MA Schools
This website provides links to a variety of web resources that address how to improve the school environment. Topics such as facilities management (including a wide range of environmental, health and safety issues), hazardous waste site impacts on schools, transportation, and waste reduction and recycling are addressed.
Source: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
http://www.mass.gov/dep/service/schools.htm

California -- Sustainable Schools
This website provides a diverse collection of sustainable building resources that will help schools create high performance educational facilities that will ensure the optimal health and productivity of students and faculty.
Source: California Division of the State Architect
http://www.sustainableschools.dgs.ca.gov/sustainableschools/

California Portable Classrooms Study
The Air Resources Board (ARB) and Department of Health Services (DHS) completed a comprehensive study of the environmental health conditions in portable (relocatable) classrooms. This study investigated classrooms in kindergarten through 12th grade public schools and included a large representative sample.
Source: California Air Resources Board
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/pcs/pcs.htm

Wisconsin - Green Schools Program
The Wisconsin Green Schools Program is a web based, voluntary program available to all K-12 schools across the state. The program encourages teachers, staff and students to work together to use the school, grounds, and community as learning tools to help teach sound environmental practices and promote environmental sustainability. A wide variety of environmental topics are addressed.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Green Schools Program
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/greenSchools

Collaborative for High Performance Schools
The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) aims to increase the energy efficiency of public schools in California by marketing information, service, and incentive programs directly to school districts and designers. The Collaborative's goal is to facilitate the design of high performance schools: environments that are not only energy efficient, but also healthy, comfortable, well lit, and contain the amenities needed for a quality education.
Source: Collaborative for High Performance Schools
http://www.chps.net/

Rhode Island Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs
These regulations, issued by RI Department of Education and RI Deptartment of Health, address a number of environmental/health issues in schools, such as: mercury, pesticide application, asbestos, lead, radon, water supply, and chemical hygiene plans. The regulations prohibit the use of certain chemicals from schools (see Appendix A).
Source: RI Dept Education and RI Dept Health
http://www.rules.state.ri.us/rules/released/pdf/DOH/DOH_2722.pdf

Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign
Every year, hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent on school incidents involving chemicals such as spills and fires. These incidents involve potentially dangerous chemicals which, in some cases, had been unused for more than thirty years. In addition to financial costs, these spills may also cause school closures that result in a loss of valuable education time. The Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3) seeks to address this issue by not only cleaning out excess, legacy, unused, and improperly stored chemicals but also by going a step further and implementing preventive mechanisms in schools.
Source: EPA-Office of Solid Waste
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/clusters/schools/index.htm

High Performance School Design Online Training
Interactive courses on this site are offered free of charge as a public benefit for design and engineering professionals specializing in sustainable design for K-12 schools. High performance school design integrates daylighting, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency to build a school that runs efficiently, saves money, protects natural resources, and provides superior visual, acoustical, and thermal comfort.
Source: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
http://www.hpschooldesigntraining.com/nyserda/home.jsp

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Walkthrough Video Assessment
This is a streaming-video module directed towards schools in city environments. The purpose is to help people identify potential indoor air quality problems and how to correct them. Based on EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program.
Source: Rutgers University
http://urbantfs.digiscript.com/

Safe Lab: School Chemistry Laboratory Safety Guide
The document provides teachers, and ultimately their students, with information so that they can take the appropriate precautionary actions in order to prevent or minimize hazards, harmful exposures, and injuries in the laboratory.
Source: Consumer Product Safety Commission & NIOSH
http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/NIOSH2007107.pdf

New Hampshire Healthy School Environments
This website provides links to resources to help schools assess and address health, safety and environmental issues in school buildings. Both a fact sheet on NH Department of Environmental Services (NH DES) efforts to customize EPA's HealthySEAT , as well as New Hampshire customization of the software may be downloaded from this site.
Source: New Hampshire Department of Envrionmental Services Air Resources Division - Air Resources Division
http://www.des.nh.gov/ARD/EHP/HSE

Green Cleaning Pollution Prevention Calculator
This calculator quantifies the projected environmental benefits of purchasing and using "green" janitorial services and products. It is designed to forecast the environmental benefits of reducing chemical use by doing some or all pollution prevention measures typically involved in the routine interior cleaning of an office building. This tool also enables users to identify which green cleaning measures will have the greatest impact in reducing their use of hazardous chemicals and in preventing pollution.
Source: EPA - Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
http://www.ofee.gov/janitor/index.asp

Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program provides schools with a range of resources to help them prevent and solve indoor air quality problems.
Source: EPA - Office of Air and Radiation
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools

LEED for Schools
The LEED for Schools Rating System recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools. Based on the LEED for New Construction rating system, it addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment.
Source: U.S. Green Building Council
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1586

Green Buildings Portal
Green or sustainable building is the practice of creating healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, renovation, operation, maintenance, and demolition. EPA's Green Building web portal provides links to energy, waste, water, materials, and indoor environment resources.
Source: EPA-Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response - Office of Solid Waste
http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/

California - Los Angeles Unified School District Product Review Database
Searchable database of over 5,000 products evaluated by the LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Safety to determine their suitability for use in and around Los Angeles schools.
Source: Los Angeles Unified School District - Office of Environmental Health & Safety
http://www.lausd-oehs.org/productreview.asp

Washington State School Health and Safety Program
The program provides consultation, technical assistance, and training to local health jurisdictions, schools, and parent groups on school health and safety issues.
Source: Washington State Department of Health - Office of Environmental Health & Safety
http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/school.htm

Massachusetts Children's Protection Act of 2000
The law "An Act to Protect Children and Families From Harmful Pesticides" is implemented by the MA Department of Food and Agriculture. This law requires schools, daycare center and school age child care programs to develop an IPM plan, requires parental notification re: pesticide application, and restricts pesticide applications both indoors and outdoors.
Source: Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture
http://www.state.ma.us/dfa/cpa/index.htm

Maine School IPM Program
This web site has links to a variety of sources of information on integrated pest management.
Source: Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources
http://www.state.me.us/agriculture/pesticides/schoolipm/

Massachusetts Environmental Health and Safety Issues in Massachusetts' Primary Schools
The interagency Healthy Schools Council was tasked with identifying a list of the most important issues for schools to address in terms of environmental health and safety. A multi-agency/multi-media checklist was developed addressing these issues.
Source: Massachusetts Healthy Schools Council - Massachusetts Department of Public Health
http://www.state.ma.us/dph/beha/iaq/schools/schools.htm

National Microscale Chemistry Center
This website provides information about the National Microscale Chemistry Center, established in January 1993. Microscale chemistry is a means of choosing less toxic chemicals, and greatly reducing quantities of wastes generated.
Source: National Microscale Chemistry Center - Merrimack College
http://www.silvertech.com/microscale

New Hampshire Pollution Prevention in Schools Project
New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services/Pollution Prevention Program has been providing outreach to NH schools re: proper chemical management. This web site provides information about that program, and provides links to fact sheets on topics such as laboratory chemical management and guidance on eliminating mercury from schools.
Source: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services - Pollution Prevention Program
http://www.des.state.nh.us/nhppp/schools

Maine Schools - Mercury and Chemical Clean Out Project
This website describes the ME DEP's 2003 program to reduce mercury and hazardous wastes in schools. Key documents used in this effort, such as a participation agreement, guidelines for conducting a chemical inventory, and spreadsheet for recording chemical inventory are included.
Source: Maine Department of Environmental Protection
http://www.state.me.us/dep/mercury/school.htm

Illinois EPA Green Schools Checklist: Environmental Actions for Schools to Consider
This web site provides environmental improvement strategies for addressing: energy usage, solid waste generation, indoor air quality, pest management, mold growth, water consumption, laboratory waste, building renovation and purchasing in schools.
Source: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Pollution Prevention
http://www.epa.state.il.us/green-illinois/green-schools/index.html

Nebraska DEQ Guidance School Chemicals and Disposal
This web site provides information on proper disposal of chemicals found in school settings. Included is a listing of chemicals that may have a greater hazard than usefulness.
Source: Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality - Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
http://www.deq.state.ne.us/Publica.nsf/0/d9583aaae76ad49c8625690b007378a3?OpenDocument

Colorado Guidance on Chemical Management in Schools
Guidance documents were mailed to Colorado schools in August 1999, addressing chemical management issues in schools with a focus on potentially unstable laboratory chemicals. This web site has information on how to conduct a chemical inventory, a list of common hazards (including top 40 chemicals that have found to be a problem in schools, and 100 most commonly found explosive and shock sensitive materials), a self-assessment tool, and information about hazardous waste vendors.
Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment - Consumer Protection Division
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/cp/Institutions/Schools/Chems%20In%20Schools/ChemMgmt.html

Tox Town
An introduction to toxic chemicals and environmental health risks you might encounter in everyday life, in everyday places, including schools.
Source: National Institutes of Health - National Library of Medicine
http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/index.html

Illinois Teaching Learning Knowing the Facts About Mercury
This Illinois Department of Public Health website contains information about mercury, geared to various audiences: teachers, students and parents.
Source: Illinois Department of Public Health
http://app.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/mercury/Default.htm

Maryland Science Safety Manual
The development of this Science Safety Manual was a joint effort between the MD Science Supervisors Association and MD State Department of Education. The safe management, handling and disposal of chemicals is addressed in this chapter.
Source: MD State Dept Ed and MD Science Supervisors Association
http://www.mdk12.org/instruction/curriculum/science/safety/chemicals.html

Kansas School Laboratory Chemical Waste Disposal Program
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has produced a Waste Chemical Disposal Guidance For Schools. This document is meant to assist those responsible for administering or improving waste management programs at local schools throughout Kansas. This document provides information regarding non-hazardous and hazardous waste, but does not prescribe in detail all required factors and considerations for this management.
Source: Kansad Department of Health & Environment - Bureau of Waste Management - Bureau of Waste Management
http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/waste/bwm_lab_waste.html

Connecticut Mercury Education and Reduction - School Lab Cleanout Program
This website provides access to information about mercury reduction and education efforts in the state of Connecticut. Posted is a report detailing CT DEP's 2002-2003 School Lab Cleanout Program, which assisted 37 schools, at a cost of $160,000.
Source: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Bureau of Waste Management
http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/mercury/gen_info/mcleanout.pdf

Green Clean Schools
Healthy Schools Campaign has published the first-ever multimedia how-to guide to help schools adopt cleaning programs that encourage the use of green products, equipment and practices in schools.
Source: Healthy Schools Campaign
http://healthyschoolscampaign.org/campaign/green_clean_schools/

Integrated Risk Information System
IRIS is a database of human health effects that may result from exposure to various substances found in the environment. IRIS was initially developed for EPA staff in response to a growing demand for consistent information on chemical substances for use in risk assessments, decision-making and regulatory activities. The information in IRIS is intended for those without extensive training in toxicology, but with some knowledge of health sciences.
Source: EPA - Office of Research and Development
http://www.epa.gov/iris/

EPA Guide to Protecting Children's Health in Schools
Software tool developed by EPA Region 5 and Purdue University provides information on hazards found in schools, inlcuding a virtual tour of a school, the potential effects of those hazards on children's health, planning tools, case studies, and lnks to resources to help schools prevent and fix environmental problems.
Source: EPA Region 5 & Purdue University
http://www.epa.gov/seahome/child.html

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools Kit
This Web site provides a description of the IAQ Tools for Schools Kit which shows schools how to carry out a practical plan of action to improve indoor air quality at little or no cost using common sense activities and in-house staff.
Source: EPA Region 6 - Tools for Schools Program
http://www.epa.gov/earth1r6/6pd/toolsforschools/tools4u.htm

The Green Rider
The purpose of the Green Rider is to provide information on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) programs that promote environmentally and economically sound building practices and energy efficiency. The Green Rider requires the offeror to document the evaluations of green practices and product selections to determine why specific concepts were or were not chosen.
Source: EPA Region 7 - Solid Waste & Pollution Prevention Branch
http://www.epa.gov/region7/p2/greenrider.pdf

A Beginner's Guide to Reviewing EHS Issues at Your School
A Beginner's Guide to Reviewing EHS Issues at Your School developed by the Burlington (Massachusetts) Board of Health identifies 25 important items that should be reviewed and considered when initiating an Environmental, Health and Safety assessment.
Source: EPA Region 7 - Burlington Board of Health
http://www.epa.gov/region7/education_resources/teachers/ehsprime.htm

Massachusetts --A Case Study of Environmental, Health, and Safety Issues Involving the Burlington Massachusetts Public School System
This Web site provides a case study of Environmental, Health, and Safety issues in the Burlington, MA public school system.
Source: EPA Region 7 - Burlington Board of Health
http://www.epa.gov/Region7/education_resources/teachers/ehsstudy/index.htm

NCEF Resource List: Hazardous Materials
NCEF offers an annotated list of links, books, and journal articles regarding the identification, treatment, storage and removal of hazardous materials found in school buildings and grounds.
Source: National Institute of Building Sciences - National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/hazardous_materials.cfm

Indiana - IDEM E-Newsletter for Indiana Educators
This newletter provides information on a range of environmental topics which schools must address.
Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management
http://www.in.gov/idem/schoolnews

New York State Department of Education Office of Facilities Planning
Contains a wide range of resources on environmental and occupational safety and health issues affecting school facilities.
Source: New York State Education Department - Office of Facilities Planning
http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/facplan/HealthSafety.htm

Maine Department of Education Facilities Management Template
Includes a draft ME School Facilities Maintenance Plan including checklists for Maintenance, Operations, Grounds, Custodial, and Vehicle Services
Source: Maine Department of Education
http://www.maine.gov/education/const/fmt.htm

Florida -- Brevard County Public Schools Office of Plant Operations and Maintenance
The Office of Plant Operations and Maintenance for Brevard Public Schools in east-central Florida provides information to school administrators and facility managers on a wide range of environmental health and safety topics.
Source: Florida Brevard Public Schools - Environmental Health and Safety
http://plant-ops.brevard.k12.fl.us/

Science and Safety: Making the Connection
Guide for science teachers on laboratory safety issues.
Source: Council of State Science Supervisors
http://www.csss-science.org/downloads/scisafe.pdf

Inventory of Federal School Environmental Health Activities
This inventory was prepared by the Schools Workgroup of the President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children and includes descriptions of major school related programs and activities of EPA and other Federal departments and Agencies.
Source: EPA -- President's Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/Inventory.htm/$file/Inventory.pdf

Connecticut Pollution Prevention in Institutions - Schools, Hospitals, Universities
This web site provides information about CT DEP's mercury reduction and chemical clean-out work with schools. There is also a link to available pollution prevention presentations for schools.
Source: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection - Pollution Prevention Program - Office of Pollution Prevention
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2708&q=323984&depNow_GID=1763&depNow

Northeast Waste Management Officials Organization, Mercury in Schools and Communities
From January to June 2001, January to June 2002, and March to June 2003, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs funded NEWMOA to assist in identifying and removing elemental mercury and products containing mercury from schools and from homes. Technical materials developed to support this effort are referenced on this web site.
Source: Northeast Waste Management Officials Organization
http://www.newmoa.org/newmoa/htdocs/prevention/mercury/schools

Chem Info Net
The Chem Info Net designed as a chemical health and safety resource for teachers, administrators, and service personnel. The site is an ongoing project and information will be added on a regular basis. The initial focus is on laboratory safety and chemicals used in the science curriculum. The information presented is based on current regulations and prudent practices. Local regulations may differ from National Standards. Please consult local and state agencies if standards or procedures are unclear.
Source: Maine School of Science and Mathematics - (aka Limestone Community School)
http://www.cheminfonet.org/

Massachusetts Community Toxics Use Reduction in Schools
The TURN Projects on this site show how many Massachusetts school systems are creatively incorporating toxics use reduction into their policies and daily operations.
Source: Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute
http://www.turi.org/community/index.html

EPA Region 7: Chemical Management and Usage
Proper chemical management is critical to preventing and/or controlling a variety of Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) issues within any facility. Understanding the materials present at the school will enable you to understand the issues associated with these substances. Properly recognizing and controlling the hazards inherent to these materials will enhance your ability to create a safe school with minimal environmental liabilities.
Source: EPA Region 7- Burlington Board of Health
http://www.epa.gov/Region7/education_resources/teachers/ehsstudy/ehs1.htm

EPA Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) establishes requirements for Federal, State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and industry regarding emergency planning and Community Right-to-Know reporting on hazardous and toxic chemicals. The Community Right-to-Know provisions help increase the public's knowledge and access to information on chemicals at individual facilities, their uses, and releases into the environment. States and communities, working with facilities, can use the information to improve chemical safety and protect public health and the environment.
Source: EPA Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Prevention - Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Prevention (CEPPO)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oswer/ceppoweb.nsf/content/epcraOverview.htm#epcraoverview

Illinois -- Greening Schools
Greening Schools offers FREE technical assistance, workshops for teachers, administrators and facility managers, and on-line resources related to pollution prevention for all Illinois schools.
Source: Illinois Waste Management and Research Center
http://www.greeningschools.org

New York State Guidelines for Green Cleaning Products
Guidelines and specifications for the procurement and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for all public and nonpublic elementary and secondary schools in New York State.
Source: New York State Office of General Services - Environmental Services Unit
http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/bldgadmin/environmental/default.html

Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
The Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools (KGHS) Program is a new, voluntary effort to empower students and staff with the tools needed to take action and make their school operate at peak efficiency.
Source: Kentucky Green and Healthy Schools
http://greenschools.ky.gov/

EPA New England's K-12 Schools Website
This site discusses efforts to improve coordination and integration amongst EPA's many schools related programs, and provides links to Regional topic specific web sites, such as: asbestos, diesel school buses, drinking water, environmental management systems, energy, indoor air quality, lead, mercury and teacher and student resources. Links to national websites are provided as well.
Source: EPA Region 1
http://www.epa.gov/ne/schools

NCEF Resource List: Classroom Design
NCEF offers an annotated list of links, books, and journal articles addressing indoor air quality issues in K-12 school buildings, including building materials, maintenance practices, renovation procedures and ventilation systems. This specific site highlights various resources on classroom design.
Source: National Institute of Building Sciences - National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities
http://www.edfacilities.org/rl/classroom_design.cfm

Massachusetts School IPM Website
This website provides information about integrated pest management (IPM) in schools.
Source: University of Massachusetts Extension School
http://www.umass.edu/umext/schoolipm

Massachusetts Healthy Schools Web site
The Massachusetts Healthy Schools Web site is a resource for promoting healthy indoor air environments and environmentally sustainable school buildings in Massachusetts.
Source: Massachusetts Public Health Association - Massachusetts Healthy Schools Network
http://www.mphaweb.org/pol_schools.html

Florida School Plant Management Association (FSPMA)
A state-based organization established in 1960 to promote the development of non-instructional services required for education and to develop working relationships between school administrators, managers, non-instructional, and instructional personnel. This website includes specifications for paint, carpet, and chemicals for use by Florida school systems.
Source: Florida School Plant Management Association
http://www.fspma.org/

Iowa Rehab the Lab
Rehab the Lab can assist with management education and disposal options for unwanted hazardous chemicals.
Source: Iowa (Polk County) Metro Waste Authority
http://www.metro-waste.com/sch_reh.html

Indiana's 5-Star Environmental Recognition for Day Care Facilities
Program to identify and recognize "green" day care facilities. Includes a multi media self assessment that includes air, water, safety, hygiene, etc.
Source: Indiana Department of Environmental Management
http://www.IN.gov/idem/kids/5star/index.html

Massachusetts Preventing Indoor Air Quality Problems During Construction and Renovation
Renovation can adversely impact Indoor Air Quality in occupied building areas. Symptoms include headache, eye, throat, and respiratory irritation, and an increase in asthma complaints. The following recommendations have been successful in reducing Indoor Air Quality complaints during building renovation activities.
Source: Commonwealth of Massachusetts - Department of Workforce and Labor Development - Division of Occupational Safety
http://www.state.ma.us/dos/iaqdocs/IAQ-388.htm

Tennessee Green Schools Resource Guide
Provides a list of national resources pertaining to Schools organized by various topics: General Pollution Prevention, Energy Conservation, Land & Water Conservation, Clean Air, Hazardous Materials Management, Waste Reduction, Green Activities, and Environmental Education K-12.
Source: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Division of Community Assistance - Tennessee Pollution Prevention Partnership
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/ea/tp3/tp3grschools.php

Vermont Mercury Education & Reduction Campaign - School Science Lab Chemical and Mercury Cleanout Project
This Web site describes how schools can be assisted with inventory and clean-out of unwanted, unlabeled, and unknown hazardous lab chemicals, including mercury and mercury compounds.
Source: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources - Hazardous Materials
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/mercury/resources/hgpubs.htm#schools

Vermont Why P2 In Your School?
This Web site contains a list of Pollution Prevention strategies that can help your school prevent health hazards, create less environmental pollution, and save money.
Source: Vermont Agency of Natural Resources - Pollution Prevention
http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/ppap/index.htm

Washington School Sweeps Campaign Final Report
The goals of the School Sweeps Project were to improve compliance with environmental laws, promote pollution prevention techniques, and provide opportunities to train vocational students in basic waste management techniques.
Source: Washington State Department of Ecology - Environmental Assessment
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/97438.html

Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project
The Janitorial Products P2 Project (JP4) is producing a series of fact sheets on environmental, health, and safety issues. The fact sheets are meant for individual janitorial workers, supervisors, and environmental health and safety staff.
Source: Western Region Pollution Prevention Network - Janitorial Products Pollution Prevention Project
http://www.westp2net.org/Janitorial/jp4.htm

Massachusetts - Environmental Management System Implementation in Waltham, MA Public Schools
The Waltham Public Schools has undertaken an innovative approach to managing their environmental affairs by implementing an Environmental Management System (EMS) based on the ISO 14001 international standard.
Source: Waltham Mass. Public Schools
http://www.city.waltham.ma.us/SCHOOL/WebPAge/EMS/EM.htm

EPA Region 2 Schools, Colleges, Universities Pollution Prevention Resources
Resources to assist schools, colleges and universities in gathering the information necessary to achieve, maintain, and go beyond compliance with environmental regulations. The site includes guidance, relevant documents, presentations delivered at several conferences, and a number of links related to environmental auditing, self-disclosure, regulations, pollution prevention, and a wide array of topics geared toward those involved in all aspects of environmental protection at academic institutions.
Source: EPA - Region 2
http://www.epa.gov/region02/p2/p2res.htm

Michigan Schools and Asthma
Parents, students, and school staff will find important information about how asthma can be controlled at school and at home.
Source: Michigan Asthma Communication Network - American Lung Association of Michigan
http://getasthmahelp.com/intro_schools.asp

Waste Management and Disposal for Artists and Schools
Artists, art teachers and students often produce solid waste and sometimes liquid waste as a result of their art processes. This document discusses the regulatory background affecting potential wastes generated by artists and art teachers and provides guidance for proper handling and disposal.
Source: Center for Safety in the Arts
http://hazard.com/library/artist_waste

New York High Performance Building Guidelines
These guidelines outline a range of 'best practices' for planning, designing, constructing and operating healthier, more energy and resource-efficient facilities.
Source: NYC Department of Design and Construction
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/ddc/html/highperf.html

12 Steps Toward a Healthier School
Children spend an enormous amount of their waking hours in the school environment. Children are a vulnerable population due to their small size and special physiology, and therefore it is important that schools be as environmentally safe as possible. Listed here are twelve areas of special concern.
Source: Environment & Human Health, Inc. -
http://www.ehhi.org/reports/12schools/

Science Teacher Resources
Developed by Flinn Scientific, Inc. a science supply company. The article includes direction and gudance for teachers cleaning up and organizing their classroom's chemical storage area.
Source: Flinn Scientific, Inc. -
http://www.flinnsci.com/resources.asp

American School and Hospital Maintenance Magazine
Provides facility managers with information regarding current facility management issues and the latest products. Many of these topics are relevant to maintenance at school facilities.
Source: Continental Communications
http://www.facilitymanagement.com/

U.S Department of Labor: Occupational Safety & Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Standards
Source: U.S. Department of Labor - Occupational Safety & Health Administration
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owastand.display_standard_group?p_toc_level=1&p_part_number=1910