Report shows Washington Park school passes air quality test

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Tuesday, January 15, 2002

Report shows Washington school passes air quality test

BY HEIDI PRICE

THE OBSERVER-REPORTER

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The results of an air quality study indicate the air Washington Park

students breathe is safe.

The report, prepared by AGX Inc. of Wexford, found fungus growing on the

surfaces of a stairwell, hallway and in the ceiling tiles of a room but

stated those contaminants had not become airborne and did not indicate poor

air quality. AGX's results were released to Washington School Board members

at Monday's committee meeting.

The study found viable or living fungi concentrations in an indoor air

sample of the school were in the range of 18 to 88 CFUs (colony-forming

units) per cubic meter of air compared with outdoor levels of 145. An

indicator of poor air quality is a level of 1,000 CFUs or higher.

There are no federal standards for mold or mold spore levels in schools.

An assessment of the air quality was part of a larger feasibility study that

the district had commissioned as a precursor to renovations at Washington

Park School, which houses students in kindergarten through eighth grades,

and at the high school.

The topic of airborne illnesses was raised at the December board meeting

when Curry, a parent of three children at Washington Park School,

claimed that his children's respiratory maladies were caused by mildew and

fungus in the school's air. Curry's son had been absent from school since

before Thanksgiving with asthma-related problems. Curry said the air quality

at the school also contributed to his daughter's migraines.

The district also had received complaints from employees who said the air

quality had been aggravating their allergies.

The Currys filed a formal complaint against the school district with the

state Department of Health.

The Currys did not attend Monday's meeting and could not be reached for

comment.

DiLorenzo said the Currys have since withdrawn their children from the

school district and enrolled them in a private school. The district is not

paying the tuition. DiLorenzo said the state is investigating the matter and

was considering the results of AGX's air study. The state also may inspect

the building.

For many years, the district has been dealing with problems of water leakage

at the school. Part of the problem is that two floors of the school are

partially or completely underground and many of the drains have become

blocked.

AGX's report indicated high concentrations of fungi were found on surfaces

in a room where student dental examinations are given.

" Students are in there very infrequently, " DiLorenzo said.

Fungal contaminants also were found in ceiling tiles in a stairwell near the

gym and in carpet in a middle level hallway. However, the report also states

that for people to be exposed, the fungal spores must be released into the

air and inhaled, physically contacted or ingested.

AGX included a list of recommendations which included, foremost, remedying a

problem with water leaks at the school.

" As long as water infiltration or water leaks exist, the potential for mold

growth will remain, " the report states.

Rick Mancini, director of operations, said the district already has begun to

address the list of recommendations. Over the Christmas holiday, nearly all

of the water-damaged ceiling tiles were replaced and sections of carpet were

removed and replaced with tile.