Air quality monitors have been placed around Grand Junction High School by student members of the air quality study group.
The monitors were first distributed in the old GJHS building in the autumn of 2023. They track the amount of carbon dioxide in the air along with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), humidity, and temperature.
“Clean air is something that should be accessible to all school-aged students. On average, students spend about 70% of their year in a school building. If we can make these buildings clean air spaces, that will give more students access to clean air that improves both physical health and cognition,” wrote Savannah D’Evelyn, the Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Colorado School of Public Health.
The study started 3 years ago and was led by GJHS assistant principal Jared Burek. The purpose was to teach students about air quality and why it’s important.
“Air quality can impact students’ health, especially if they have asthma or different respiratory diseases…These can help improve them for students and also have several other health benefits,” said GJHS junior and member of the air quality study Callum Orr.
The QR code on the air quality posters links to a website that shows the current carbon dioxide levels measured by the corresponding monitor. The display is color-coded with green meaning good air quality, yellow meaning moderate air quality, and red meaning unhealthy or hazardous air quality.
Editor’s Note: Amelia Breedlove is currently enrolled in the Reporting class.
