Indoor air quality and health effects in elementary schools: The Mission project

How is the air quality in elementary schools? This is the question the MISSION project,funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, seeks to answer. The project is building a national technical-scientific network to improve indoor air quality in schools, reduce related health risks, and increase the energy efficiency of school buildings. The study brings together 16 operative units (Universities, Healthcare companies, CNR institutes, and ARPA) and monitoring activities in 24 classrooms across five Italian regions: Lombardy, Tuscany, Marche, Apulia, and Sicily. Environmental parameters (chemical, physical, biological, and microclimatic) and health indicators (spirometry and FeNO) were measured in winter 2025 and will be reassessed in winter 2026. In half of the classrooms, air purifiers will be introduced to test their effectiveness in reducing pollutants and supporting children’s respiratory health. In Lecce, the project involves four elementary schools. Preliminary findings point to the presence of pollutants mainly linked to indoor sources, such as markers, glues, paints, and perfumes.  The follow-up campaign planned for 2026, including the use of air purifiers, will provide valuable evidence on how improving indoor air quality can positively influence children’s health.