Putnam boy, 11, 'can't breathe' in school

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Putnam boy, 11, 'can't breathe' in school

By JOHN PENNEY

Norwich Bulletin, Norwich,CT

http://www.norwichbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

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PUTNAM -- Like many children, 11-year-old Garceau sometimes

gets anxious about school. But unlike his fellow students, his fears

aren't about pop quizzes, but about being unable to breath, a

possible symptom of being exposed to mold.

Garceau, who, until last week was a fourth-grade student at Putnam

Elementary School, sat on the floor of his grandmother's house

Thursday surrounded by dozens of colored pencils -- and an asthma

inhaler and two bottles of respiratory pills within easy reach.

" It's horrible when I'm at school, " Garceau said. " My throat closes

up and I can't breathe. "

Darlene Garceau said her grandson's respiratory problems began soon

after enrolling at Putnam Elementary nearly three years ago. She

said an allergist diagnosed with a high aspergillius count --

a sign was breathing in mold spores, most likely at school.

Garceau's experience reflects an ongoing statewide concern with air

quality in schools across Eastern Connecticut and the rest of the

state.

Darlene Garceau said after several failed attempts to get school

officials to examine the mold problem, she pulled her grandson out

of school, worried his condition would deteriorate. Until she's

satisfied no mold exists at the school, Garceau said her grandson

will be tutored at home.

" When comes home from school, he's wheezing and has

difficulty breathing, " Darlene Garceau said. " But on weekends, or

while on break, he's fine. "

Putnam Mayor Bob Viens said some money was allocated to town schools

last year for ventilation duct cleaning, but he was unsure how far

along that process is. He said the schools are also in the middle of

undergoing air quality testing, but no results have been received.

" We are not ignoring the problem, " Viens said. " We are working to

make sure any air quality problems are being rectified. "

Putnam School Superintendent Margo Marvin said her office is in the

process of testing for mold, but no information was available yet.

The concern about poor air quality in schools, and its possible

consequences for students, are not limited to Putnam.

Tools for Schools

Nearly 20 years ago, spurred by reports linking student health

problems with poor indoor air quality, the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency developed Tools For Schools, an indoor air quality

program aimed at finding and correcting school-based air problems.

The agency estimated indoor human exposure to air pollutants could

be two to five times higher, and occasionally 100 times higher, than

outdoor levels.

Following up on the federal program, the state General Assembly

enacted a bill in 1999 requiring all schools to implement an indoor

air quality program through the Connecticut School Indoor

Environment Resource Team, a consortium of 16 state health, labor

and education agencies.

Kenny Foscue, an epidemiologist at the state Department of Public

Health, said one of the biggest obstacles to combating poor indoor

air quality is financial. He said in order to have an impact on poor

air conditions, schools must have the people in place to intervene.

" When it comes around to budget time, maintenance is an area that

often gets cut, " Foscue said. " There is a direct link to having

adequate maintenance personal and having good health conditions in

schools. "

At the school level, the Tools For Schools program is carried out

through a two-part training system, involving a school team

consisting of teachers, parents, administrators, nurses and

maintenance workers.

Norwich training

Maureen Thayer, Norwich Public School's facility supervisor, said

her team recently underwent its first training day last year.

" It's mainly about learning what to look for, like clutter on

radiators or wet tiles, " Thayer said. " If it's a simple thing, and

we have the funds, we fix it right away. "

Phyllis Cummings, the nurse supervisor for Norwich Public Schools,

said the incidence of asthma in the local population runs close to

15 percent -- a high level, but one that has not increased in her

more than 20 years on the job.

" The Tools For Schools program is a very good one, because it helps

us monitor the asthma levels, " Cummings said.

The same year the state legislature passed the air-quality bill,

Environment and Human Health Inc., a North Haven nonprofit health

organization, found an asthma rate of 9.7 percent in all Connecticut

school children in kindergarten through fifth grade, up nearly 2

percentage points from 1999. The report listed school conditions as

one possible factor for the asthma spike.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited mold spores, formed

through poor moisture-control, as an asthma trigger in sensitive

individuals. The agency also listed nasal stuffiness, eye irritation

and wheezing as possible mold reactions. The report states the key

to mold control is the elimination of moisture, especially on

absorbent material, such as ceiling tiles and carpets.

A 2005 report from the Department of Public Health ranked the state

first in implementing the school-air quality program, with nearly

half of the state's schools using the program. Schools in lin,

Bozrah, Sprague, Lisbon, Preston and Voluntown were not listed as

participants.

Canterbury mold woes

Canterbury Superintendent of Schools Suplicki said her

district had a problem with mold a number of years ago, but

undertook a series of steps to eradicate the problem, including

removing all carpets from classrooms and hallways.

Before the aggressive anti-mold campaign was waged, Suplicki said

the number of student and teacher absences were abnormally high.

" It was an expensive process, but you have to find the source of the

mold to take care of it, " Suplicki said. " We also keep on top of

roof leaks and any dampness. "

Reach Penney at 334-0638 or jppenney@...