Public poses questions to IAQ experts

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http://www.activedayton.com/ddn/epaper/editions/thursday/southwest_4.html

Public poses questions to experts

By andria Dietz

News Service

Thursday, January 31, 2002

WEST CARROLLTON--The quality of air at West Carrollton High School is

improving, but serious issues remain, a panel of experts told a group of

concerned parents, students, staff members and residents at a public meeting

last week.

Kominsky, a certified industrial hygienist and director of industrial

hygiene and safety for Environmental Quality Management in Cincinnati,

visually inspected and tested the building on Jan. 2.

Kominsky shared his findings during the public meeting Jan. 23:

When tests find 50,000 colony-forming units per gram (cfu/g) of dust, there

is reason for concern. Several areas tested were above that level, including

the library at 62,000 cfu/g and the computer room (room 221) at 385,455

cfu/g.

" The library really surprised me, " Kominsky said. " The carpet looked brand

new. " The sample also contained penicillium, a toxogenic fungus.

The band room had 19,333 cfu/g and 15,033 cfu/g.

Tests of the supply and return air ducts in the heating, ventilation and

cooling system revealed 392,174 cfu/g in the return duct for room 200. In

the guidance office, the supply duct tested at 57,325 cfu/g and the return

at 15,236 cfu/g.

In the auditorium, site of the meeting, two readings of supply ducts yielded

115,349 cfu/g and 36,885 cfu/g. In the library the reading for returned air

was 9,524 cfu/g. The prevalent mold was penicillium, which Kominsky said

prefers fiberglass surfaces.

The filters of the unit ventilators were tested. The results were 17,791

cfu/g in room 316; 57,037 cfu/g in room 321; 56,716 cfu/g in room 301; and

52,880 cfu/g in room 302.

Though the levels in the 300 wing seemed to be lower than the levels of

Kominsky's tests in May, that was not the case with the 200 and 400 wing.

The dominant fungi were aspergillus and penicillium. Visual inspection

identified numerous areas of fungi amplified and several moist areas that

are conducive to fungal colonization, Kominsky said. Those areas have been

or are scheduled to be corrected.

Kominsky's tests for dust mites in the band room found that the carpet

" exceeded acceptable guidelines. " Correction will require that the carpet be

replaced or professionally cleaned with hot water extraction, which Kominsky

recommended for all carpeted areas.

" What was done (in the band room) was not sufficient or they missed some, "

he said.

Kominsky recommended cleaning of the central HVAC system, which services the

library, auditorium, and the 200 and 400 office area. The ducts were cleaned

during winter break by the Duct Doctor.

His final recommendation was that the cleaning methods used in the 300 wing

be used in the 200 and 400 wings. He also suggested more tests.

" You should conduct follow-up air testing throughout the building after all

recommendations have been implemented, " Kominsky said. " Part of standard

practice is that you retest down the road. "

Gayetsky, an industrial hygienist and engineer with the Ohio Department

of Health, told the meeting that West Carrollton's problem is not uncommon,

based on his 10 years of experience in building and school assessmen.

The Ohio Department of Health regards carpet as unsuitable for school

buildings because " it is a reservoir for mold and other contaminants, "

Gayetsky said. " Schools don't have the resources to maintain it properly. "

Dave , the administrator of Miami Twp. and moderator of the public

meeting, accepted written questions, which he read to the panel.

The panel included:

Burkett of the Ohio Department of Health.

Jeff and Jim Gross of the Regional Air Pollution Control Agency.

Dr. Donovan of the University of Cincinnati's Division of Occupational

and Environmental Medicine.

Thad Godish, director of Ball State University's indoor air quality/indoor

environment research.

Dana Green, business director of the West Carrollton School District.

Phil Hayden of Hayden Environmental Group.

Klein of Indoor Air Quality Solutions.

The questions about mold and air quality covered several areas:

The effect of mold on the human body: Donovan said that fungus that contacts

a mucous membrane, such as eyes, nose, throat and mouth, would cause a

physiological reaction.

The HVAC system in the 300 wing: Green said that a new unit will be put in

this summer. He noted that the other buildings in the district have a

different system.

Carbon dioxide: Higher levels of the colorless, odorless gas can make people

feel like they are not getting enough fresh air, which can cause headaches

and fatigue. Klein disagreed, pointing out that a higher temperature can

cause the same symptoms.

Kominsky said that the solution is to eliminate sources of contamination in

the HVAC system. Klein said that it is bringing in more air than it can

filter.

Stachybotrys: Community members asked if it was normal for blood tests on

more than 30 people to reveal exposure to high levels of the toxic mold.

" That is not normal, " said Godish, who based his comment on a study done in

another building.

Klein said that one study cannot be the basis for a conclusion.

" One isn't enough? " an audience member asked.

" No, " Klein said.

Lack of standards for toxic mold: Klein pointed out that standards are very

expensive to develop and that most existing standards are for ingestion, not

inhalation.

Asbestos removal: Green said that old asbestos floor tile had been replaced.

A questioner asked why workers in biohazard suits were in the building

during school hours, but Green said he was not aware of that.

School district Superintendent Rusty Clifford said that questions not

answered at the meeting will be addressed at

www.familyeducation.com/oh/west_carrollton on the Web

Some parents described the meeting as unhelpful. " It was a waste of my time

and taxpayer money, " Kim Pickle said.

Pickle is homeschooling her son, who is a senior, and her daughter, who is a

junior. She claims that the problems at the high school have harmed her

children, who have not been in the building since beginning homeschooling in

November. The symptoms stopped after the two left the school, but her son is

still having tests, Pickle said.

Pickle disliked the plan to answer questions on the Internet.

" I don't own a computer, " she said. " What good does that do me? "

, another parent, compared the panel with a stacked deck.

" Do I think they did a good job of not holding anyone accountable? Yes, " she

said. " Do I think they did a good job of skipping around the truth? Yes. "