Shading school playgrounds to reduce heat and UV exposure and promote physical activity - 1 Childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and extreme heat pose serious long-term health risks, 2 including increased occurrence of the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, later in life. A majority of 3 exposure to UVR and heat among youth occurs during outdoor play, such as school recess, which is also a 4 primary source of health-enhancing physical activity. However, most schoolyards lack adequate protection 5 from the sun and heat. UVR and heat exposure is more severe on surface types that absorb and re-radiate 6 heat, such as asphalt and concrete, which are commonly used on high-use schoolyard play areas, like 7 basketball courts. Adding shade structures is a promising intervention to reduce direct sun and UVR exposure 8 in schoolyards; however, their impact on health and behavior remains poorly understood, particularly in 9 settings where children spend the majority of their time being physically active. 10 11 This R21 study leverages a unique natural experiment in Arizona, where solar panel shade structures will be 12 installed over elementary school basketball courts. Using a pre-post within-subjects design, we will evaluate 13 the impacts of adding solar shade on UVR and heat exposure, as well as duration and intensity of physical 14 activity during outdoor play, among children (n=300; ages 9-11) at three schools during recess before and after 15 installation. Using wearable sensors, systematic direct observation, and environmental measurement of 16 ambient microclimate conditions, we will compare behavior and exposures on courts pre- and post-shade 17 installation, as well as between shaded courts and unshaded play areas. 18 19 Our specific aims are to (1) evaluate the impact of shaded courts on children’s physical activity, heat, and UVR 20 exposure, (2) assess the feasibility of simultaneously measuring outcomes with wearable sensors, observation 21 methods, and environmental assessments in school settings, and (3) identify school-level barriers and benefits 22 to implementing solar shade. 23 24 Our multidisciplinary team integrates expertise in public health and human biometeorology to address the 25 intersection of built environment design, environmental exposure, and child health. Findings will provide 26 generalizable insights into how schoolyard design can be optimized to reduce environmental health risks to 27 children from overexposure to sun and extreme heat without compromising physical activity, a key contributor 28 to children’s health. By capitalizing on a time-sensitive opportunity, this work will advance the mission of 29 NIEHS to protect health by reducing harmful environmental exposures while supporting healthy behaviors.
