On 7th September, SynAir-G joins the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, led by the United Nations Environment Programme. This year’s theme, “Racing for Air” calls for urgent collective action to tackle air pollution and ensure cleaner air to protect the most vulnerable, especially children. With 99% of the global population breathing polluted air, the urgency to act has never been greater.
When we think of air pollution, many picture traffic smog or industrial chimneys. But the truth is more complex: outdoor and indoor air are connected and both affect our health. Children spend up to a third of their day inside classrooms. If the air inside is polluted, the risks to their health and development increase, particularly for those with asthma and allergies.
SynAir-G’s mission: cleaner indoor air in schools
Our project focuses on indoor air quality in schools and its connection with outdoor air. Little is known about how indoor and outdoor pollutants interact – or what that means for our health. We bring together scientists, schools, civil society, and public authorities to better understand these interactions and to design interventions that improve the air children breathe every day.
We also collaborate through the Indoor Air and Health Cluster (IDEAL Cluster), a network of EU projects working together to ensure that new research translates into real-world policies that protect people’s health.
New discoveries inside classrooms
Recent SynAir-G research highlights why this work is so urgent. Using advanced sensors in classrooms in Greece, we found that the main pollutants indoors were not the usual outdoor ones from traffic or industry, but volatile organic compounds. These are invisible chemicals released from cleaning products, paints, or furniture. They can irritate the lungs, trigger allergies, and worsen asthma symptoms. Children are most exposed to certain pollutants inside schools and knowing this makes it possible to design solutions that protect their health more effectively.
The findings show the link between indoor and outdoor air, highlighting the urgent need for action in both areas to ensure healthy air for all. The research outlines practical steps that can be taken now to protect children against air pollutants, recognizing that air knows no boundaries. SynAir-G will continue collaborating across sectors to identify the sources of indoor air pollution, both from inside and out, uncover the complex interactions between pollutants, and develop effective interventions that safeguard children’s health.
A call to action for #CleanAir inside and outside
Air pollution is a global challenge, but it is also one we can address if we act together. Governments, schools, businesses and communities all share responsibility for cleaner and healthier air.
On this International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, SynAir-G reaffirms its commitment to protecting children by advancing science on indoor air pollution, improving indoor air quality, raising awareness and supporting stronger policies. Clean air is essential for health today and for the well-being of generations to come.
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