Buying an air purifier for nursery school or daycare

Children are one of the most at-risk groups in suffering the effects of air pollution. The World Health Organization states that ‘93% of the world’s children under 15 years old breathe air so polluted that it puts their health and development at serious risk’¹. Protecting our most vulnerable populations from the dangers of air pollution should be one of our top priorities as a society. This includes keeping them safe from indoor air pollution when they attend nursery school or daycare. How does air pollution affect children? How can an air purifier (also known as an air cleaner or air sanitiser) protect them in nursery schools and daycares? Read more below.

Why are children at such high risk of air pollution-related illness?

As children grow, their immune systems are also in development. This means that they are particularly vulnerable to airborne air pollutants, whether that be fine particle pollution (also known as ‘particulate matter’ or PM) or germs found in our breathing air. The ages of children attending nursery school or daycare can range anywhere from six weeks old to four or five years old. As a result, these children are in varying stages of development and have differing vulnerabilities.

The dangers of air pollution

Studies have shown that ambient air pollution leads to increased mortality in both children and adults. The risk is especially increased for nursery schools, daycares, or facilities located in cities that experience high levels of pollution. Nursery schools and daycares that are near motorways or other areas with traffic pollution and fine and ultrafine pollution exposure are especially at risk.

For infants and children, the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is elevated due to air pollution exposure. A 2004 study analysed the link between particulate air pollution and infant mortality. It found that young children are most at risk of death due to respiratory causes upon exposure to particulate air pollution².

Another study performed in Brazil on children under the age of 5. Concentrations of sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and particulate matter under 10 microns in size (PM10) were all obtained. The results demonstrated that the increased risk of respiratory death for children under 5 were as follows:

• SO2 exposure: 13%
• CO exposure: 15%
• PM10 exposure: 7%³

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Particulate matter like PM10 and PM2.5 are proving to be the most dangerous forms of pollution due to their small size. Once these particles are inhaled, they can efficiently enter the lungs and gain access to other organs of the body like the brain, heart, and bloodstream.

Indoor air is, on average, 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air (sometimes reaching 100 times more polluted). Sick building syndrome (SBS) can cause illness in adults working in nursery schools and children attending them. The same goes for long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants. Both can lead to nose, eye, throat, and skin irritation; allergies; reduced performance and ability to focus; and increased risk of multiple types of cancer, respiratory disease like asthma, and mental health disorders like anxiety and depression⁴. 

Airborne germs

Nursery schools and daycares are hotbeds for disease transmission (bacterial and viral). Disease can be spread amongst the children in attendance, adult care providers, parents, and other members of the community. Infection is typically spread when children release aerosols into the air whilst talking, shouting, or singing. It is also spread when dirty toys are transferred from child to child and inevitably placed into the mouth.

Multiple studies have shown that children who attend nursery school and daycares are much more likely to fall ill than children who do not. Children who are attending nursery school or daycare for the first time are at the highest risk of contracting an illness. Respiratory tract infections, wheezing episodes, and gastrointestinal illness are the most common illnesses spread in nursery schools⁵. Additionally, when children fall ill, they are typically prescribed antibiotics to encourage a speedier recovery and, thus, return to school. This can ultimately lead to higher bacterial resistance.

Attending nursery school, however, is a crucial step for the strengthening of a child’s immune system and socialisation skills. That said, it is crucial to remove airborne pathogens before they have a chance to be inhaled via a child’s respiratory system. Installing an air purifier in a nursery school or daycare is a great way to protect all children and adults from overexposure to germs (bacteria and viruses). This can help keep all community members, especially those that are most vulnerable, from disease transmission.

Allergens

It is expected for dust to build up in places where groups of people spend long periods of time. Nursery schools and daycares are no exception: indoor allergens are abundant. Studies have suggested that exposure to airborne dust allergens in infancy can cause sensitivity, allergies, and may lead to the development of asthma. Starting as early as nursery school, these respiratory conditions can cause learning difficulties and delays due to extended periods of illness. These children often require extra support at school, even at an early age.

One study even declares that it is ‘imperative to design interventions’ to protect infants from excessive dust allergen exposure. Contracting allergies, hay fever, or asthma as a result of allergen exposure in nursery school or daycare can cause disruptions in a child’s development by causing disturbed sleep, days missed from school due to illness, and/or urgent care visits⁶.

Another study found a strong correlation between indoor dust allergen exposure and the development of childhood asthma. The study goes on to state that reducing exposure to these dust allergens could provide significant benefits in preventing asthma⁷. An air purifier for nursery school could prevent airborne dust and dust mites from being inhaled by children, protecting them from potential sensitisation in later years.

Odours

Air purifiers that are equipped with activated carbon filters can be particularly beneficial for combatting nursery school or daycare odours. Various odours can be found in places that monitor children: dirty nappies, cooking, odours created as a result of activities with children, odours created by cleaning and sanitising products, and more. These smells can be difficult to remove and may stick around for extended periods of time. Installing an air cleaner with odour-fighting technologies is a great way to not simply mask nursery school odours but to remove them from the air completely.

Another important point to note is that odours caused by cleaning products, air fresheners, pesticides, new furniture, and products used for renovation often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can be released for up to two years! This is particularly problematic in places like nursery schools or daycares that do not have sufficient ventilation. VOCs are known for their negative effects on our health.

How does an air purifier for nursery school work?

Air sanitisers are fairly simple. They pull polluted air into the device, treat it using one or more filtration technologies, and then recirculate the purified air back into the room. The ideal air purifier should have powerful air filtration capabilities but not make loud noises so as not to disturb the user.

The technologies used can vary significantly, meaning that the quality of the air purification you are receiving in your nursery school or daycare can vary, too. Eoleaf air purifiers use a proprietary 8-step filtration method with each stage targeting a specific type of pollutant. The steps are detailed below:

1. Prefilter – captures all particles larger than one micron (hair, fibres, dust, etc.)
2. Natural bamboo fibre – natural material with excellent filtration properties
3. Lysozyme and silver ion coating – known for their antifungal and antibacterial capacities
4. Medical-grade HEPA H13 filter – HEPA filters are guaranteed to capture 99.97% of all fine and ultrafine particles down to a size of 0.01 microns (dust and dust mites, germs, allergens, mould and mould spores, particulate matter)
5. Activated carbon filter – effective against VOCs and unpleasant odours
6. Photocatalysis – binds to VOCs, gases, and other types of chemical pollution
7. UVC sterilisation – removes all airborne bacteria and viruses
8. Ionisation (negative ions) – fights against smoke and fine particle pollution

Read more about our 8 stages of filtration.

The benefits of an air purifier for nursery school or daycare

Installing an air purifier in a nursery school or daycare can bring a host of benefits to all those associated with anyone who attends or works in such a facility.

Reduces exposure to air pollutants

The main goal of installing an air purifier is, of course, to remove indoor air pollutants from your breathing air. A high-quality air cleaner equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA)-certified filter will effectively remove 99.95% of air pollutants that enter your space. HEPA filters are the only filters guaranteed to remove particles down to 0.01 microns in size. This may include pollutants from road traffic; germs like viruses and bacteria; mould and mould spores; and allergens like pollen, pet dander and hair, and dust and dust mites. Keep in mind that ‘HEPA-type’ filters, though cheaper, are not guaranteed the same level of filtration as HEPA-certified filters!

An air purifier in a nursery school or daycare can deliver constant, purified air throughout classrooms, play rooms, gymnasiums, cafeterias, and more. It can promote well-being amongst children, reduce illness transmission, and encourage children’s development by improving educational performance.

As mentioned above, it is helpful to purchase an air purifier equally equipped with odour-fighting technologies. Removing odours from your breathing air can reduce distractions in a nursery school or daycare for both students and staff. Unpleasant odours have the potential to impact your daily life!

Protects teachers, staff, families, and visitors

In a nursery school, the children are not the only individuals at risk of the dangers of indoor air pollution! The nursery school or daycare staff, family, friends, caretakers, and other loved ones who are in contact with these individuals are all put at risk. An air purifier in a nursery school or daycare can keep anyone who is in contact with the children safe from bringing illnesses home to their loved ones. This, in turn, reassures parents that their children are breathing the cleanest, safest air possible that is free of invisible pathogens and indoor pollutants found in nursery schools.

Fights COVID-19 with medical-grade technology

In nursery schools, social distancing, hand disinfection, and mask-wearing are all difficult to enforce. Aerosols that transmit the coronavirus can stay in the air for an extended period of time, posing a prolonged contamination risk to anyone who comes in contact with them.

COVID-19 is often asymptomatic in young children, meaning that it is easy for a child to be a host of the virus and spread it to others. Nursery school air purification is paramount in tackling the issue whilst it is still airborne before it can turn into a bigger one.

How to choose an air purifier for a nursery school or daycare?