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The air inside the classrooms is sometimes even more polluted than the outside air. Pixabay / Jarmoluk

A new study by European NGOs shows that air pollution is not limited to the outside atmosphere, but also affects schools.

Polluted air is dangerous for health and even more so for fragile people, especially children. Unfortunately, even in school, the air they breathe is not healthy, or even sometimes of poorer quality than outside air.

Exceeded health standards

This is the result of the study conducted in 50 institutions in six capitals by the European NGO Alliance for Health and the Environment (HEAL), namely in Paris, London, Berlin, Madrid, Sofia and Warsaw.

Despite disparities between these cities, constants appear: the three pollutants tested, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, as well as fine particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, regularly exceed the sanitary standards.

Reduce car traffic

The reason: schools are often poorly ventilated and thus concentrate all the dirt from the outside air mainly due to road traffic and work. If the cause is known, the solutions are also known, even if they are still too little applied.

The NGO behind this report calls on public authorities to implement plans to reduce car traffic, especially around schools. This could involve stricter speed limits, or even the pedestrianization of these neighborhoods.

► Re-read: Air pollution kills more than tobacco

A 100% clean air guaranteed school in the Parisian suburbs

During the National Day of Air Quality celebrated on Wednesday, the mayor of this city located in the Paris region signed a partnership with the company Veolia, specialist in water, waste and energy. The opportunity to present the first school that guarantees 100% pure air for children.

" I think it's good for this air purification device ," a student responds. " It's good, we're going to breathe better ," hopes another. These students from La Fontaine elementary school appreciate the devices put in place in their school.

Jean Michel Genestier, mayor without label Raincy experiments with a device for air purification in the classroom: " The idea has come to me for many years, he says. I am a director of Airparif, which is an organization that measures the quality of the outdoor air and I knew how dangerous it could be with indoor air. And it was absolutely necessary to experiment. My goal is to ensure indoor air quality to prevent disease. "

And it is with the company Veolia that the town hall of Raincy has signed a partnership to ensure good air quality to students. Antoine Frérot, CEO of Veolia: " Thanks to our sensors that measure fine particles, very fine particles, CO2, temperature, volatile organic compounds, depending on the results, we are able to imagine the equipment it must be put in place to purify the air, "he says.

The experimentation of the device will have to last 18 months. If the results are satisfactory, it could be a solution for the indoor air quality of public buildings.