Indoor Air Quality in Child Care Facilities
Background
Licensed child care centers and child care homes play a vital role in providing care to millions of young children throughout the U.S. One important element of this care is to protect children from exposure to indoor environmental contaminants.
Children are especially vulnerable to indoor air pollutants because their bodies are developing and because they breathe more air relative to their size than adults. These exposures can have both immediate and long-term effects on children’s health and learning.
Evidence-based facility maintenance and operations practices can help prevent and address indoor environmental problems in child care facilities, often at low or moderate cost. Some non-governmental organizations have incorporated such practices into voluntary environmental health standards and guidance for child care providers. It is also important for IAQ-related requirements to be included in state laws and regulations, so that children in all state-licensed child care facilities are protected from potentially harmful exposures.
ELI research reports on the topic of IAQ in child care describe state policies in effect as of the date of publication. ELI’s Database of State IAQ Laws, which is available in PDF format or through an online search tool, also includes state policies that address IAQ in child care environments.
ELI Materials on IAQ in Child Care
Reducing Environmental Exposures in Child Care Facilities: A Review of State Policy (2015)
Drinking Water Quality in Child Care Facilities: A Review of State Policy (2015)
Addressing Environmental Site Hazards at Child Care Facilities: A Review of State Policy Strategies (2018)
Radon in Child Care: Review of State Policies (2021)
Opportunities for Policy Action
Every state has legal authorities that can be used to reduce IAQ risks and help ensure a healthy environment in which young children can learn and grow.
All 50 states have child care licensing laws and regulations, and many states update their regulations with some frequency. Though licensing requirements vary from state to state, they typically address certain aspects of the indoor environment. States may have other types of policies that address environmental health issues in the child care setting – e.g., child care health rules, building codes, or laws governing specific environmental exposures such as secondhand smoke or pesticides.
In addition to state policies, federal regulations establish requirements that apply to providers who receive federal child care funds, and tribes and municipalities may have their own laws that apply to licensed child care facilities.
Policymakers can review their existing laws and regulations to identify gaps and opportunities for addressing key IAQ issues in the child care setting. ELI policy materials support such efforts by providing an overview of existing state policies and highlighting considerations for future policy development.
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