Project title

SINPHONIE - Schools indoor pollution and health: observatory network in Europe

Scientific Coordinator's name:

Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes

Scientific Coordinator's e-mail:

eofernandes@inegi.up.pt

Principal R&D Unit:

Energy and Built Environment Group

Other R&D Units involved in the project:

Other R&D units involved in the project

Project keyword(s)

indoor air; children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s health; schools; risk management

Short abstract and comments

Overal Aim: SINPHONIE (2010-2012) was a multidisciplinary research project encompassing the areas of health, environment, transport and climate change and aimed at evaluating air quality in schools and kindergartens and understanding the associations with health outcomes. Thirty-eight environment and health institutions from 25 countries participated in the SINPHONIE project with the objective of implementing the Third Regional Priority Goal (RPG3) of the Children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe (CEHAPE), aiming at preventing and reducing respiratory disease due to outdoor and indoor air pollution. The SINPHONIE project is an example of the practical implementation of the EU Environment and Health Action Plan. Main Competences: Identification and quantification of the indoor air polutants and potential sources, coupled with accurate risk evaluation in support to future interventions, throughout IAQ measurement campaigns and exposure assessments studies. Main Deliverables: Reference guide with guidelines framework for healthy environments within European schools. This document provides a definite reference for the most up-to-date knowledge about air quality, hygiene and health in education buildings, informed by the outcomes of the SINPHONIE project. This includes key drivers and prevention, control, remediation and communication strategies for healthy school environments in Europe.

Potential uses/indications

Informing relevant stakeholders (e.g. municipalities; medical doctors; school-building designers and managers) about indoor air conditions and best practices for healthy school environments.