Experts plan January gathering to clear the air in local schools

[Guest guest]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1712 & dept_id=478996 & newsid=5644008 & PA

G=461 & rfi=9

October 09, 2002

Experts plan January gathering to clear the air in local schools

MICHAEL HOLTZMAN, Staff Writer

SMITHFIELD -- Indoor air-quality experts from Harvard and Brown

universities, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and from

private industry will be the featured speakers when North field's

School Health and Safety Association Inc. (SHASA) teams with state and

national organizations for an upcoming workshop to benefit public school

students throughout the state.

All 36 school districts in Rhode Island will be invited to the workshop,

titled " Indoor Air Quality: How It Affects the Health in Our Schools. " It

will be held Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at College, Pike.

SHASA is inviting the superintendents, school nurses and facilities mangers

in each school district, said ette Hamilton-Kell, organization

president.

The American Lung Association, the state Department of Health and the

American Cancer Society are cosponsoring the event that's been in the works

since the summer.

The four speakers include:

..Dr. , a Harvard epidemiologist, who will give an overview of

the health effects caused by poor indoor air on building occupants.

..Eugene Benoit, indoor environments program director with the U.S. EPA in

Boston, who will discuss " Tools for Schools, " a step-by-step approach for

schools to identify and correct indoor air problems nationwide.

.. Morin, with environmental health and sciences at Brown, who will

speak about OSHA guidelines and safe chemical use and storage in schools.

..Tom Hamilton of Occuhealth, a Massachusetts-based occupational

environmental health and safety consulting firm, who will discuss ways to

identify molds and other toxins along with testing techniques.

" The workshop is going to provide a lot of credibility to the organization

(SHASA), " said Hamilton-Kell, " and a lot of information in a short period of

time. "

" This workshop will be interactive, giving all participants a chance to

exchange ideas, see what problems they need to look at, and brainstorm

solutions with experts who can provide accurate, up-to-date information, "

she said.

The sponsors' hope is the superintendents, school nurses and facilities

managers " will go back to their schools and take some action, " she said.

In cooperation with interested parties, SHASA's long-term goal is to set an

agenda and plan actions that would result in setting indoor air quality

standards for the state.

During the course of drawing up the conference, Hamilton-Kell said their aim

is to clarify goals so " we can throw our cards on the table, pool our

resources together, and lobby for legislation that would at least allow us

to be reading off the same page. "

Founded as a grassroots organization in November 2000 upon the discovery of

significant amounts of mold problems at North field Elementary School,

SHASA has gained state recognition for its efforts to educate schools to the

dangers of not addressing indoor air issues.

Part of its goal is also to work with all communities, including schools and

parent groups, to assist in the identification of indoor air quality (IAC)

problems and eventually establish guidelines for all schools to use during

testing and remediation.

Due to space constraints, seating at the workshop will be limited. Cost for

the seminar, including lunch, is $20 per person. Pre-registration is

recommended by contacting Hamilton-Kell at SHASA Inc., P.O. Box 915,

Slatersville, RI 02876.

©The Call 2002