Improving Indoor Air Quality and Asthma Management in Puerto Rico’s Schools and Universities

Asthma remains one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among children in the United States, affecting millions of students and contributing to missed school days and academic setbacks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in its Managing Asthma in the School Environment guide, stresses the importance of controlling environmental triggers to support students’ health and success.

To help schools and universities across Puerto Rico tackle this critical issue, Zimmetry Environmental offers comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) testing, monitoring, and consulting services. As a trusted leader in environmental solutions, Zimmetry supports schools in identifying and mitigating asthma triggers, respiratory irritants, and airborne allergens.

“Each day, one in five Americans enters a school building, according to the EPA,” said Harry Pena , President of Zimmetry Environmental. “With people spending up to 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality, especially in educational settings, is essential to managing asthma effectively. Poor IAQ can lead to missed school days and long-term academic challenges for students. That’s why proactive air quality programs are so important.”

Common asthma triggers in school environments include:

• Cockroaches, rodents, and other pests
• Mold due to moisture problems
• Pet dander (from classroom animals or brought from home)
• Secondhand smoke and dust mites
• Chemical fumes from cleaning products and unvented appliances
• Outdoor pollutants like ozone, particulate matter (PM), and vehicle exhaust

Zimmetry offers school administrators services such as HVAC system evaluations, moisture and mold assessments, and full facility inspections tailored to meet the specific needs of educational institutions. Their expert team helps schools implement actionable solutions to create healthier, asthma-friendly environments.

To further raise awareness, Zimmetry recently released a short educational video on asthma and indoor air quality in schools, available here: https://youtu.be/Z2K9oe6kq8c

For more information about Zimmetry Environmental’s indoor air quality, building science, and environmental compliance services in Puerto Rico and surrounding regions, visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995-0005, or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals, and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs, and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail