Classroom air quality under the microscope in new nationwide research project

New CHILI Hub, backed by a round of £42 million in funding, to explore how indoor school environments impact children’s health and learning.

Researchers, including three from Imperial College London, will receive over £5 million in public funds to better understand how the net-zero transition and air quality in and around schools impacts the health and learning outcomes of pupils. This research could shape future policy and investment decisions for schools that reduce energy demand whilst improving the health and education of young people.

To reach the UK’s net zero target, buildings must be more energy efficient, using insulation and airtight designs. While this reduces heating needs, it can trap pollution and increase indoor heat, also promoting the spread of infections. Schools and nurseries contribute 15% of public building carbon emissions. As children spend much of their school time indoors, it’s vital to ensure building changes for net zero don’t negatively impact their health and wellbeing.

The new Child and Adolescent Health Impacts of Learning Indoor Environments under NetZero (CHILI) Hub, hosted at University College London (UCL) and led by Professor Pia Hardelid from UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, arrives at a crucial time as the UK works towards achieving its net-zero emissions target. It is one of several research hubs recently announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in a funding allocation of £42 million.

Investigating school environments

As part of CHILI, Dr Henry Burridge from Imperial’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and colleagues will collect and analyse data on air quality from 900 classrooms in 600 schools and in 150 school playgrounds and investigate the impact of school environments on pupils and staff.

CHILI ultimately aims to drive policy changes by evidencing the benefits of investment in school infrastructure to redress chronic underfunding and create school buildings that support both educational success and long-term public health Dr Henry Burridge Senior Lecturer in Environmental Fluid Mechanics, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Dr Burridge has been awarded approximately £500,000 to contribute to the project. He will be supported by Dr Sam Wood and Dr Alice Handy, both postdoctoral research associates within the department.

Their findings will provide evidence for policymakers, to support the development of net zero policies that seek to enhance, rather than compromise, children's health and well-being.

Beyond data analysis, the CHILI project will involve school staff and pupils in hands-on research, including fieldwork, sampling, and intervention trials. It will also examine the effects of indoor air pollutants on respiratory health through toxicology studies using cell-based lab models.

The next phase of school air quality research

Incorporating the success of the SAMHE (Schools' Air Quality Monitoring for Health and Education) project, CHILI provides the opportunity for the SAMHE Initiative to contribute to further research on school environments and their impact on health and learning outcomes.

In earlier phases of SAMHE, participating schools installed small air quality monitors, about the size of a WiFi box, in classrooms. These devices provided real-time air quality data, helping students and teachers better understand their indoor environment. By engaging pupils and staff in data collection, the initiative raised awareness about air quality and fostered proactive approaches to improving ventilation and air cleanliness.

Now, SAMHE’s research will focus on gathering and analysing indoor and outdoor air quality data from schools, as well as data relevant to comfort and energy usage. This work will contribute to large-scale models assessing energy efficiency, air pollution, and their effects on children’s health and well-being. By identifying crucial factors affecting indoor air quality, the team aims to inform future policy and building design strategies to ensure healthier learning environments.

Driving change for healthier learning spaces

The findings from CHILI will provide vital evidence for policymakers, school administrators, and government bodies, demonstrating the need for better-funded and healthier school environments. By raising awareness among school staff and pupils, the project also seeks to foster long-term behavioural changes that improve indoor air quality.

Dr Burridge said: “CHILI ultimately aims to drive policy changes by evidencing the benefits of investment in school infrastructure to redress chronic underfunding and create school buildings that support both educational success and long-term public health.”

For more details about the CHILI Hub and the wider funding initiative, please see the official announcements from UKRI and UCL.