One issue the legislators focused on was the effect of poor ventilation and indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools and public buildings. NEMI sponsored a luncheon during the conference, bringing a panel of IAQ experts and individuals affected by poor IAQ to speak on their expertise and experiences.

“There is a great deal of misinformation floating around about indoor air quality,” said Erik Emblem, executive director of NEMI. “We want parents, teachers, and decision makers to base their evaluations of the problem on the right information.”

Before the panel presentation began, NEMI welcomed a surprise guest. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson dropped by to say a few words during the luncheon. Secretary Thompson spoke on the real threat Americans face from bioterrorism in schools and other public buildings. “There will be homeland security funds available for application for the states. What you do with those funds is up to you as legislators. Investments should be made into the fields of the prevention of bioterrorism.”

To provide more information to the legislators, NEMI also distributed its IAQ in Schools CD-ROM, which includes statistics, common causes of poor IAQ, an IAQ calculator, etc.

For further details, visit www.nemionline.org.

Publication date: 01/13/2003