Shading school playgrounds to reduce heat and UV exposure and promote physical activity - Childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and extreme heat pose serious long-term health risks, including increased occurrence of the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, later in life. A majority of exposure to UVR and heat among youth occurs during outdoor play, such as school recess, which is also a primary source of health-enhancing physical activity. However, most schoolyards lack adequate protection from the sun and heat. UVR and heat exposure is more severe on surface types that absorb and re-radiate heat, such as asphalt and concrete, which are commonly used on high-use schoolyard play areas, like basketball courts. Adding shade structures is a promising intervention to reduce direct sun and UVR exposure in schoolyards; however, their impact on health and behavior remains poorly understood, particularly in settings where children spend the majority of their time being physically active. This R21 study leverages a unique natural experiment in Arizona, where solar panel shade structures will be installed over elementary school basketball courts. Using a pre-post within-subjects design, we will evaluate the impacts of adding solar shade on UVR and heat exposure, as well as duration and intensity of physical activity during outdoor play, among children (n=300; ages 9-11) at three schools during recess before and after installation. Using wearable sensors, systematic direct observation, and environmental measurement of ambient microclimate conditions, we will compare behavior and exposures on courts pre- and post-shade installation, as well as between shaded courts and unshaded play areas. Our specific aims are to (1) evaluate the impact of shaded courts on children’s physical activity, heat, and UVR exposure, assess the feasibility of simultaneously measuring outcomes with wearable sensors, observation methods, and environmental assessments in school settings, and (3) identify school-level barriers and benefits to implementing solar shade. Our multidisciplinary team integrates expertise in public health and human biometeorology to address the intersection of built environment design, environmental exposure, and child health. Findings will provide generalizable insights into how schoolyard design can be optimized to reduce environmental health risks to children from overexposure to sun and extreme heat without compromising physical activity, a key contributor to children’s health. By capitalizing on a time-sensitive opportunity, this work will advance the mission of NIEHS to protect health by reducing harmful environmental exposures while supporting healthy behaviors.
