Air in Danish classrooms unsafe

Study reveals up to four times too much CO2 in some classrooms

Aug 24, 2016

Since the school reforms were introduced in August 2014, students and teachers in Denmark spend more time in classrooms than ever.

Unfortunately, a study from DTU has revealed that the environment in many classrooms leaves much to be desired.

In up to 60 percent of the classrooms the concentration of CO2 was higher than established limits. Concentrations were especially bad in the many Danish schools without a mechanical ventilation system. In some places, CO2 concentrations were nearly 80 percent above what is allowed.

Can’t breathe, can’t think
The indoor environment is important because children’s learning and concentration abilities drop when exposed to bad air.

“If you do only one thing to create a better indoor environment for children, it should be recirculating the air,” Jørn Toftum, an associate professor of indoor environment at DTU who helped conduct the study, told DR Nyheder.

“About 40 percent of schools have no mechanical ventilation – we found CO2 concentrations as high as 4,000 ppm in some of those places,” said Toftum.

The recommended exposure limit is 1,000 ppm.

TOP STORIES

New agreement criticized for not attracting enough internationals

Several mayors and business leaders across Denmark are not satisfied with the agreement that the government, the trade union movement and employers made last week. More internationals are needed than the agreement provides for
Let’s not fear the global – let’s use it wisely

Copenhagen’s international community is not just a demographic trend – it’s a lifeline. Our hospitals, kindergartens, construction sites, laboratories and restaurants rely on talent from all over the world. In fact, more than 40% of all job growth in the city over the past decade has come from international employees.
The Danish Connection: Roskilde gossip, a DNA scandal & why young Danes are having less sex

With half of the population of Copenhagen at Roskilde this week, Eva away in Aalborg and the weather being a bit of a joke , Melissa and Rachel bring you a chatty episode to cheer you up looking into three of the top stories in Denmark this week.
A nation turns its hopeful eyes to Jonas Vingegaard

The Tour de France has started and thus the news focus in Denmark for the next few weeks is defined. The double Tour winner will once again compete with the phenomenon Tadej Pogacar to stand at the top in Paris. Many Danes will daily follow whether one of the nation’s great sons succeeds
Palestine support voices characterize Roskilde in rain, sun and wind

The 53rd edition of Roskilde Festival ended Saturday night. More than 100,000 people gathered to listen to music, party, drink – and for many to take a stand on the conflict between Israel and Palestine
Air France-KLM will be the majority owner of SAS

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) may have French-Dutch Air France-KLM as a major shareholder. SAS has had some difficult years, but the share purchase could be the start of brighter times

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Summer Greetings from
The Connect Club
☀️⛱️😎

Career

“It’s possible to lead even though you don’t fit the traditional leadership mold”

Describing herself as a “DEI poster child,” being queer, neurodivergent and an international in Denmark didn’t stop Laurence Paquette from climbing the infamous corporate ladder to become Marketing Vice President (VP) at Vestas. Arrived in 2006 from Quebec, Laurence Paquette unpacks the implications of exposing your true self at work, in a country that lets little leeway for individuality
Deal reached to bring more foreign workers to Denmark

Agreement between unions and employers allows more foreign workers in Denmark under lower salary requirements, with new ID card rules and oversight to prevent social dumping and ensure fair conditions.
New association helps international nurses and doctors Denmark

Kadre Darman was founded this year to support foreign-trained healthcare professionals facing challenges with difficult authorisation processes, visa procedures, and language barriers, aiming to help them find jobs and contribute to Denmark’s healthcare system

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Jobs