More testing fails to determine source of carbon monoxide
?Another round of testing Wednesday from Columbia Gas has left Uniontown Area High School officials and parents baffled as to why at least nine students have fallen ill and tested positive for carbon monoxide in the last week.
A statement from Columbia Gas was released following an inspection Tuesday, which yielded results of zero detection of carbon monoxide in the building.
“Columbia Gas has done full inspections of the natural gas infrastructure of the school and determined that everything is fully functioning the way it is supposed to. Any issues with the carbon monoxide have nothing to do with natural gas.”
Columbia Gas officials were back at the high school Wednesday, retesting every classroom and every floor in the building. According to Principal Thomas Colebank, representatives concluded that again, no carbon monoxide was detected after Wednesday’s testing.
Concerned parents of students with confirmed elevated levels of carbon monoxide gathered at Uniontown Area High School Wednesday to talk with administrators. Parents began their protest outside of the school, but were invited into the auditorium to speak with Colebank.
“We are here with concrete positive results that children have gotten sick. But we are not here to blame or point any fingers,” said parent Beth Carolla. “We know with the construction that workers are using machinery and chemicals. We just recommend that these contractors don’t work until 3?p.m. so kids aren’t breathing any fumes.”
In a letter addressed to parents late Wednesday, Dr. Charles Machesky, district superintendent, said effective at the end of the school day on Wednesday, all construction work at the high school will be suspended until student dismissal each day.
“This is the first step that we are taking to ensure that our students can return to school in an environment that ensures quality air for all students and staff to breathe,” the letter says.
The incident began Friday when two students returned home from school with flu-like symptoms and were seen in the emergency room at Uniontown Hospital, where blood work results confirmed slightly elevated levels of carbon monoxide, according to Machesky.
Robert Smalley, director of buildings and grounds, said two different air quality companies and Columbia Gas representatives have been onsite on several occasions since Friday. All reports have indicated that carbon monoxide levels at the school were at zero or within normal range. The Uniontown Fire Department and the Department of Health were also consulted. No source has been detected.
Harmony Swaney of Markleysburg said her ninth-grade son hasn’t returned to class since becoming sick on Monday. She said her son’s carbon monoxide levels measured 2.1 percent and were causing him to vomit and experience blurred vision and a severe headache.
“The doctor at the emergency room told us not to let him go back to school until a source was found,” she said, noting that the doctor was not attributing the cause to the school. Swaney said she immediately checked the detectors in her home, which were functioning and not detecting carbon monoxide.
Steve McDonough of Smock said his 10th-grade son started to experience symptoms last week with headaches and fatigue. He said his son’s symptoms became worse after spending time in the school on Saturday for rehearsal of the school’s musical. The sophomore’s test results at the emergency room on Saturday came back at 1.7 percent.
“The doctor said that level wasn’t dangerous to him, but he would be uncomfortable,” McDonough said. “Sunday he was fine, but called us again on Monday from school stating he was sicker than he was on Saturday.”
McDonough said his son’s levels on Monday were elevated to 2.0 percent.
“We checked for carbon monoxide in the home and there was none,” he said. “Because he was to the hospital twice after being in school, I definitely think the problem is coming from the school. But I am not here to point fingers. I know they are trying to find the source.”
Patricia Desvarro was at the high school on Wednesday to pick up her daughter, a senior, who had reoccurring symptoms after leaving school on Tuesday for vertigo, nausea, headaches and the shakes. Testing at the emergency room Tuesday revealed carbon monoxide levels of 2.1 percent.
“I let her come back to school today because the doctor at the ER released her, but he did recommend that if she got sick again to bring her back.”
Smalley said school officials are continuing to work with air quality companies and medical officials about the situation and will look into other factors that could be contributing to the problem such as school transportation.
“I can understand the hysteria associated with this,” he said.
In addition to the letter, school officials also sent parents information about carbon monoxide. Machesky said the results of all of the Columbia Gas testing are available at the high school office. A copy of the letter is available on the school’s website.