Eight school districts leading the way to prevent and solve indoor air quality problems in schools were honored at the EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools National Symposium in Washington, D.C., Dec. 4-6, 2008, according to an EPA press statement.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in schools can lead to a range of health problems, including allergy symptoms and asthma attacks. Students and staff exposed to poor IAQ can also suffer diminished performance and concentration, according to EPA.

A recent U.S. Center for Disease Control study found that half the nation’s schools, representing 30 million children and staff, now have IAQ management programs in place, 85 percent of which relied on EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools.

This year’s TfS award winners are: Connecticut Technical High School System, Middletown, Conn.; Newark Public Schools, Newark, N.J.; North East Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas; Amity Regional School District No. 5, Woodbridge, Conn; Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, N.Y.; Bellingham School District, Bellingham, Wash.; Diane Rhodes of San Antonio, Texas; and Peggy Caruso of Katy, Texas.