Questions about air-quality testing in high school
The Pinelands Regional High School in Ocean County New Jersey was closed for four days last week for air quality concerns after rooftop construction. Yesterday was the students‘ first day back. There have been conflicting reports of health issues, but it generally seems that the first day back is going OK.
There were two rounds of air-quality testing conducted last week. The first found unacceptable levels of multiple chemical compounds, the second, conducted two days later (after being cleaned), found no dangerous levels of any chemical.
Full results document of each test
* Test 1: October 3
* Test 2: October 5.
All of the unacceptable results found in round one (Indicated by red flags):
Sample: Room 164
Chemical | Actual ug/m3 | Times greater | NIOSH Res uh/m3
* Ethelbenzene | 2.7 | 2.45 | 1.1
* 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene | 15 | 2.05 | 7.3
Sample: Upper level - Media
Chemical | Actual ug/m3 | Times greater | NIOSH Res uh/m3
* Benzene | 8.9 | 24.72 | 0.360
* Ethelbenzene | 37 | 33.64 | 1.1
* Xylene (p,m) | 110 | 1.1 | 100
* 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene | 180 | 24.86 | 7.3
* Naphthalene | 11 | 132.52 | 0.083
The clean results of round two
Chemical | Actual ug/m3 | NIOSH Res ppm
* Benzene | 8.9 | 0.360
* Ethelbenzene | 37 | 1.1
* Xylene (p,m) | 110 | 100
* 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene | 180| 7.3
* Naphthalene | 11 | 0.083
This report concludes: "TTI has evaluated the results and can confirm that none of the target compounds exceeded limits for either exposure or notification at both the state and federal levels."
Confusion
There are a number of things I find confusing about this.
* First, the first round of tests analyze specific areas in the school, but the second does not identify any area.
* Both rounds seem to have measured almost exactly the same levels.
* The recommended NIOSH residential levels are measured in ug/m3 in round one testing, but ppm in round two. 542
In round one, for example, the recommended maximum for benzene is 0.360, which according to this tool, translates to 0.00036 ppm. However, on the second test, has a recommended maximum of 0.1 ppm. Also, the same calculator translates benzene’s ug/m3 of 8.9 to 0.0089 ppm, but in the Test two results, it is translated to 0.0028.
* Finally, parents are simply unfamiliar with these chemicals and what the levels imply, and how they affect teenagers. It is hard to fight what you can’t see or smell.
Help understanding and interpreting these results, and especially in giving parents some reassurance if it is warranted, would be appreciated. Thanks. 979