There have been two shifts in our environmental concerns since the early environmental movement in the 1960's and 1970's. The first has been a shift from a strictly ecological focus, where concerns centered on man's negative effects on the natural world, to concern specifically about the risks posed to human health. Even more focused has been our interest in children's health. The second shift has been to be more attentive to the environmental risks associated with the "built" environment: our homes, office buildings, and schools. This shift has helped to raise awareness about indoor air quality; the existence of and manner by which we control pests (including insects, molds, fungus/mildew, and rodents); and the health risks associated with the products that we use to construct buildings and those products that we bring into our homes, schools, and offices. Increasingly, concerns are being raised about school buildings, the built environment that one sixth of the U.S. population can be found in, Monday through Friday, during the school year. Our concerns are further heightened because the majority of people found in school buildings are children, who may have distinct vulnerabilities to environmental health risks.

There are some quick fixes that can be accomplished for school-based environmental health risks but some environmental health problems will have existed for years; identifying and reducing them may take time. Some risks are quite complex and will require changes in purchasing practices; rehab and renovation specifications; and upgrades of ventilation systems. The best way to address any of the problems will be from an informed position and with the support of others in the education setting. Take time to read the section on health and safety committees; health and safety committees can create a win-win platform for creating environmentally healthy schools that will be safe workplaces and healthy learning places.