June 9, 1998
(Education)

Air quality testing reports being released

The Department of Education is releasing the reports completed by six independent consulting companies on air quality testing for 150 schools within the province. The reports are being sent to the appropriate school board for distribution to the relevant school councils. Additional background information is also being provided by Dr. Thakor Patel, a microbiologist at Memorial University, who is acting as a consultant for the department regarding any potential health-related issues identified by these studies.

According to the reports, there are no concerns for immediate closure of any schools. Dr. Thakor Patel said: "I have closely examined and evaluated the test results and based on the information contained in these reports, in my opinion, there are no immediate health hazards to children in schools throughout the province."

The Department of Education is prioritizing the remediation work to be performed in schools which were identified as having air quality problems and will be undertaking necessary maintenance to correct these problems during this summer period.

Remediation actions planned as a result of the findings will include roof repair or replacement, repairing water damaged ceiling tiles and wall materials, replacing carpets with tile flooring, installing operable windows that open at the top, improving or adding ventilation systems to increase air circulation and improve humidity and temperature levels. Further action will also involve recommending that school boards establish regular maintenance procedures for the ventilation systems and general cleanliness.

"Government is living up to its commitment, not only to conduct comprehensive air quality testing in the schools, but to also take the necessary actions to rectify any potential health problems identified in the schools," said Education Minister Roger Grimes. "We want to ensure the students of our province are attending school in a safe and healthy environment."

There are another 72 schools that have completed testing and reports are expected on those schools within the next two to three weeks. To date, 244 schools have completed air quality testing and all remaining schools will be tested in the fall.

School boards and parents will have the opportunity to address the findings of the reports with Dr. Patel, who will be available to speak with them if they request additional information and clarification on the findings for their respective schools.

Contact: Carl Cooper, (709) 729-5040.

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BACKGROUNDER

Findings of the IAQ testing reports

• Last March six consulting firms were contracted to conduct air quality testing in 150 schools within the province. This was Phase I of the project.

• Phase II is completed, with reports expected in the next two to three weeks for the 72 schools tested during this phase.

• The project was designed and planned with experts in the area of indoor air quality management. The protocols to be adapted in testing were outlined by the experts and were included in the terms of reference stipulated by the Department of Education to ensure uniformity and standardization in testing procedures by the different companies performing the testing.

• Indoor air quality testing focused on the following four parameters: temperatures; relative humidity; carbon dioxide (CO2) and; bioaerosols (fungus).

Summary of Findings

• Temperatures in the majority of cases were found to be within target range ( 20 - 23.5, winter, ASHRAE), and in some cases they were marginally lower than the recommended range.

• Relative humidity was mostly within a respectable range or slightly below the recommended range ( 20 - 60 per cent, or 30 - 60 per cent, winter, ASHRAE).

• On average, carbon dioxide levels were less than 3,500 ppm (parts per million) or slightly above the Health and Welfare Canada guidelines of 3,500 ppm. In some cases, carbon dioxide levels reached 6,000 ppm. These high levels (6,000 ppm) recorded were of short duration during the testing phase and present in only some classrooms. There was not a single case where CO2 levels remained high for an extended period of time.

• According to the Health and Welfare guidelines, the majority of schools fall within the expected range (< 3,500 ppm) or slightly above this value.

• Carbon dioxide levels dropped considerably if windows and doors of the classrooms were left open a few inches during the day. The drop in CO2 levels ranged between 25 - 80 per cent in some cases.

• The CO2 levels as defined by ASHRAE standards of 1,000 ppm is a measure to assess the ventilation rates within a building and does not reflect any health hazard to the occupants.

• The use of CO2 concentration as an indicator of human body odour is distinct from any health effects associated with CO2 itself. Health effects from elevated CO2 levels have not been observed until the concentration reaches a value of 7,000 to 20,000 ppm and these studies involve continuous exposure for at least 30 days.

• The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has established an occupational exposure limit of 5,000 ppm which is based on health considerations.

• It is not surprising that more than 50 per cent of the schools examined tested positive for fungal spores since they are ubiquitous in nature. You cannot miss them in outdoor as well as indoor air, including classrooms and private homes.

• The amount of fungal spores was not a life threatening situation and the problem can be solved by either following proper sanitization procedures or by removing contaminated materials. Although toxigenic fungi were detected no pathogens were present in the air samples tested.

• The testing revealed that 50 per cent of the schools have water leakage from roofs or from poorly installed window frames. In rare cases, the water in the walls appears to be seepage from underground water.

• Some other parameters noted in the reports include VOCs (volatile organic compounds), asbestos coated pipes, carbon monoxide and auto exhaust fumes.

• The primary VOCs sources identified include detergents (solvents) used to clean floors, toilets, and other solid surfaces. Some reports included chemicals used in science laboratories as sources of VOCs.

• Although asbestos-coated pipes and boilers exist in old schools, the risk of the fibres from this material is minimal due to the fact that heavy paint is used to coat the material. This heavy paint traps the fibres and they do not become airborne unless there is physical damage to the asbestos material. Furthermore, asbestos-coated items are in the mechanical or boiler rooms where student and staff-member traffic is limited.

• Some reports have noted carbon monoxide associated with exhaust fumes from automobiles, school buses and trucks. There is a possibility of fumes gaining access into a building, especially if the wind direction is appropriate, when loading and offloading areas are close to classroom windows or the main entrance.

• Remediation actions will include: roof repair or replacement; repairing water damaged ceiling tiles and wall materials; replacing carpets with tile flooring; installing operable windows that open at the top; improving or adding indoor ventilation systems to increase air circulation and improve humidity and temperature levels, and; recommending the school boards to establish regular maintenance procedures for the ventilation systems and general cleanliness.

1998 06 09            3:25 p.m.