Alanna is one of several children and teachers who became ill since a chemical exposure in the Blakely Elementary School on Bainbridge Island in 1993. The chemical exposure occurred as a result of an asbestos abatement project in which mastic remover orange was used during the spring and summer of 1993. This solvent contains naphtha, a toxic substance that can cause permanent brain and nervous system damage according to the material safety data sheet (MSDS).
Air Quality Problems Common
Although not usually as severe as at Blakely, air quality problems are common in schools that have been recently remodeled. In a state-wide survey conducted by Dr. Richard Ellis from the Washington State Department of Health, 33 of 62 schools that had been built or remodeled since 1989, had indoor air quality problems since the construction. Ed Heller, the maintenance manager for the Seattle School District, said that the air quality was sacrificed in the 16 buildings that were remodeled since 1989 in order to meet the energy code at the time, which specified a 5 percent fresh air mix. This has since been changed to a 15 to 25 percent mix, depending on the occupancy rate.
In the fall of 1993, when the problems at Blakely became exacerbated, Bill Bleakney, the District Superintendent for Bainbridge Island, recalls that the State Department of Health "did not do air quality. Only after the spring of 1994 did we begin to receive help from the state."
According to Bleakney, the source of the indoor air problems was the mastic remover, which had soaked wallboard and "off-gassed" (released toxic gases) during the warmer months. The school district evacuated certain classrooms, conducted a series of tests with several industrial hygienists, and, after removal of the soaked portions of wallboard, found levels that were considered not toxic, according to Bleakney. In May of 1994, the District spent over $250,000 to renovate ventilation systems in the school, and increase the air exchange to five times per hour. However, some parents, students, and teachers still had health problems for the next year, and did not think that the district did enough to remedy the problem.
Slow To Respond
According to parents Karen Ahern and Maria Mason, school district and public health officials were slow to respond. "There were no procedures in place to address indoor air quality problems. We contacted over 50 state and local agencies to come to our aid. The School District was so afraid of litigation that they did not communicate properly with parents and respond adequately. It took one and a half years for the problem to be identified and remediated. During this time, our children were exposed to toxic chemicals such as naphthalene...What the long term effects will be is unknown... Several had to be taken out of school due to deteriorating health."
Dr. Liliane Bartha, a physician who saw a number of children from Blakely Elementary, has seen an increase in the number of patients, many of whom are children, with chronic and disabling symptoms after exposure to poor quality indoor air, building materials, pesticides and combustion materials. According to Dr. Bartha, who is a member of the Washington State Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Work Group, an estimated 30 percent of new and renovated facilities have indoor air quality problems.
Dr. Bartha points out that children are more vulnerable to toxins because of their small size, decreased ability to clear toxins, and their developing nervous and immune systems.
Associate Professor Emeritus Peter Breysse from the University of Washington says that standards for children should be more stringent than the established standards. "All of the occupational health standards mentioned on the MSDS are inappropriate for children since they only apply to adults at work. Almost all of the data used to develop these standards were based on white males between the ages of 19 and 40."
Yet even without standards, decisions can be made that protect children. Dr. Richard Ellis of the Washington State Department of Health recommends a common sense approach. "We know carpets are a reservoir for mold, fungi, bacteria, and chemicals. It makes sense to take carpets out of hallways and cafeterias. We need to have proper maintenance of ventilation systems so the air gets down to where the kids sit; in poor ventilation designs a stratification effect can occur where the fresh air is pushed across the top of the room."
Guidelines Developed, But No Enforcement
The Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction has no specific policies on indoor air and refers to the Department of Health for guidelines and inspections. In response to the growing concerns about indoor air quality, the Washington State Department of Health, under contract with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction developed the School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual. This document provides school districts of this state with guidelines to minimize or eliminate indoor air pollution. Training on the manual will not be available until September of this year. There will be one day of training for the 296 school districts in the state.
The manual, developed by Dr. Ellis with input from parents, recommends air quality standards that are more stringent than Labor and Industries' standards. However, Karen Ahern points out that "without enforcement, how can we rely on persons to implement these guidelines? Schools will not be safe until there is legislation to mandate safe practices." Without training of all school officials, will this manual be applied and used? Without enforcement, will there be more "Blakelys"?
Mike Curry, the Director of New Construction for the Issaquah School District, said that their architects and engineers follow the guidelines from the School Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual, as well as other codes. In the Seattle School District, Don Gilmore, the project manager for Building Excellence, a program in which 19 buildings are being renovated, was not familiar with the manual but said that the district has learned to buy materials that don't "off-gas".
Ed Heller, the maintenance manager of the Seattle School District, said that many ventilation systems in the Seattle schools are old and in need of repair. According to Ed Heller, the city does not have the funding to follow the guidelines in the manual. "We don't have the money to keep the roofs from leaking." Moisture creates mold and mildew, which contributes to poor indoor air quality. The lack of clear standards is also a problem. "If we were given clear standards we would follow them, but when there's a vagueness and a lack of specificity, we will follow the least expensive alternative because of budget constraints."
Bill Bleakney, the Superintendent of the Bainbridge Island School District, shares some lessons learned from Blakely. "Don't use mastic remover orange, do the work during the summer when the kids are not around, and find someone reputable to do asbestos abatement work. The workers must be well-supervised." He believes there needs to be continuing discussions to resolve the complex problems. "The state should take more of a leadership role. They should sponsor workshops for folks involved in construction; facility supervisors, architects, and project managers."
Karen Ahern believes it is imperative that parents get involved to protect children's health. "I advise all PTAs and PTOs to create parent safety committees at all school sites in every school district in the country, and that any architects hired must have a contract that stipulates that they use non-toxic building materials."
"We need indoor air quality laws for enforcement, and we need pediatric standards. School districts need to prioritize children and teachers' health above their fears of litigation and costly remediation when they encounter a 'sick' school," Ahern said.
Awareness on indoor air quality is growing among school districts. However, until we are willing to spend the money to provide all school districts with training on indoor air quality, set legislative standards, and improve older schools with leaking roofs, we may still compromise the health of our children.
- Diana Tener, an environmental engineer, is the host and producer of Earthtalk, a TV series on Channel 29, Fridays at 5:00 PM, that focuses on environmental issues.
For more info, check out:
NEA's "Healthy School Handbook" (800) 229-4200
internationally renowned environmental allergist Dr. Doris Rapp's
video "Environmentally Sick Schools" (800) 787-8780.
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Contents on this page were published in the July/August, 1996 edition of the Washington Free
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