What if you found out that the place your child spends most of their day, the classroom, could silently be harming their health? For seven to eight hours every day, children sit in rooms meant to shape their future. But those same rooms might be exposing them to unsafe air. Schools are designed to nurture learning, discipline, and growth, but when the air children breathe is filled with pollutants, that nurturing environment turns into a hidden threat. For it, the only solution is air quality monitoring for schools to focus on clean air for students.
The truth is, air pollution in schools doesn’t just affect a child’s lungs; it can also slow down how well they think, learn, and perform. According to the World Health Organisation, more than 93% of children around the world are breathing unsafe air. Studies have even shown that the level of harmful particles inside classrooms can sometimes be three to five times higher than what children are exposed to outside. Imagine sending your child to school every morning, only to realise that the very place meant to prepare them for life might be quietly putting their health and potential at risk.
How Poor Air Quality in Schools Affects Children’s Health?
Children breathe faster than adults and take in more air relative to their body weight. That means when the air inside classrooms is polluted, their exposure to harmful particles is much higher. The problem is not just about irritation or allergies. Because it goes deeper, affecting the lungs, the brain, and the body’s natural development.
When children inhale polluted air, microscopic particles like PM2.5 and gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) enter their respiratory system. Unlike larger particles, PM2.5 is so small that it bypasses the body’s natural filters (nose hairs, mucus) and travels deep into the lungs. From there, it can cross into the bloodstream, carrying harmful substances throughout the body. Thus to understand the levels, air quality monitoring for schools is the basic step to understand the need of solutions.
This exposure leads to several health impacts:
- Respiratory health: Fine particles and dust inflame the airways, triggering asthma attacks, persistent coughs, and reduced lung growth. Studies have shown that children exposed to high PM2.5 are more likely to develop chronic respiratory diseases later in life.
- Immune system stress: Continuous exposure to indoor pollution weakens the immune system, making children more prone to infections. This is one reason polluted schools often report higher absenteeism rates.
- Cognitive effects: High CO₂ levels in poorly ventilated classrooms reduce oxygen supply to the brain. Even a moderate increase above 1,000 ppm can cause drowsiness, slower reaction times, and impaired memory. Over time, this translates into poorer test performance and reduced classroom engagement.
- Long-term risks: Repeated daily exposure adds up. Research links childhood air pollution exposure to higher risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adulthood.
The Data Behind the Risks in Schools
The dangers of polluted classrooms are not abstract; they are backed by hard data from both health and education research. Let’s look at what the numbers reveal:
Health Data
- Asthma on the rise: Childhood asthma cases in polluted cities have increased by 35 percent over the last decade. (source: Lancet Global Health). With children spending 7–8 hours daily inside schools, exposure to dust, PM2.5, and poor ventilation is a major trigger.
- Cognitive impact of CO₂: Research shows that when indoor CO₂ levels rise above 1,000 parts per million (ppm). It means students experience reduced concentration, slower decision-making, and weaker memory retention. Many overcrowded classrooms regularly cross this threshold, especially during winter when windows stay closed.
Educational Data
- Attendance and health link: Schools with clean air report 15–20 percent better student attendance. Because children fall sick less often and recover faster (US EPA and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health).
- Learning outcomes: According to OECD research, schools that actively maintain cleaner indoor air see higher exam scores and improved classroom engagement. Pollution isn’t just a health issue, it’s a direct barrier to academic achievement.
Real-World Context
- In Delhi NCR, smog days regularly push outdoor AQI beyond 400. And studies show indoor classrooms often record AQI levels of 300–350 even with doors and windows closed. This means that on the worst days, children are breathing toxic air levels considered “hazardous” for adults, let alone young lungs.
Real-World Impact of Prana Air’s Air Quality Monitoring in Schools
1. Case Study: Lycée Français International, Delhi
- Problem: Despite using air purifiers, the school had no visibility into whether the air in its classrooms was truly safe. Parents and staff lacked access to real-time data, which hindered their trust in the system.
- Solution: Prana Air deployed 40 Squair Lite Monitors across classrooms. And one Ambient PM Monitor outdoors, all connected to a live dashboard accessible to staff and parents.
- Result: The school now tracks PM2.5, CO₂, and VOC levels in real-time, verifies purifier performance, and shares transparent air quality data. This built parent trust and positioned LFI as a proactive leader in student health and safety.
2. Case Study 2: American School of Bombay
- Problem: ASB had invested in advanced air purifiers but lacked any way to verify their actual effectiveness or monitor outdoor air quality—this was especially concerning to parents and staff who wanted tangible evidence of a healthy environment.
- Solution: Prana Air installed 40 Squair Lite Monitors indoors to track key metrics like PM2.5, PM10, CO₂, temperature, and humidity. They also deployed one Ambient PM Monitor outdoors to assess air quality around the playgrounds and school perimeter. All of this data was averaged and published live on the school’s website with intuitive colour-coded signals.
- Result: The school now regularly validates its purifier performance, makes informed decisions about indoor activities, and provides transparent, real-time air quality updates to parents. This fosters trust, boosts safety, and empowers administrators with actionable insights.
Solutions We Provide for Air Quality Monitoring and Clean Air in Schools
At Prana Air, we believe clean air in schools should not be left to chance. That’s why we provide an end-to-end ecosystem of monitoring, purification, and data transparency tools that make healthier classrooms a measurable reality.
- Indoor Classrooms – Squair Lite/Squair
Our Squair monitors continuously track CO₂, PM2.5, PM10, and VOCs inside classrooms. These compact devices show real-time status with easy colour-coded indicators and send alerts when pollutant levels rise, so staff can respond immediately. - Outdoor Spaces – Ambient PM Monitor
Playgrounds and open areas are often affected by traffic fumes or construction dust. Our Ambient PM Monitors measure outdoor particulate matter, giving schools reliable data to decide when it’s safe for children to play outside. - Purification – Fresh Air Machine Purifier
Monitoring is only the first step. Our Fresh Air Machine Purifier automatically adjusts airflow and filtration based on live data from monitors, ensuring that classrooms stay within safe air quality ranges without manual intervention. - Data Control – Air Quality Dashboard
All devices connect to a centralised dashboard where administrators can view air quality trends across classrooms and outdoor spaces. Schools can also share this data with parents through secure portals, building transparency and trust.
With this ecosystem, schools gain actionable data, proactive purification, and full accountability, delivering healthier learning environments where children can thrive.
Let Us Help You Build a Safer Classroom
If this resonates with your school’s goals, whether you’re a parent advocating for cleaner air or a school admin seeking low-cost, high-impact solutions, Prana Air offers proof, performance, and peace of mind.
