THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601060118
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Carbon dioxide levels at Cox High School are higher than recommended but do not pose a health risk for students or staff, according to school officials.
Tests performed over four days in December found peak levels of about 2,000 parts per million in two rooms in different parts of the building, according to Paul Garrison, director of environmental services for the district. Recommended standards for carbon dioxide - the gas we all breath out - are about 1,100 parts per million for this area, Garrison said.
``Two thousand isn't what we want to be doing, but that's the best we can do with that building and that design,'' he said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration currently considers 5,000 parts per million as the maximum carbon dioxide level for the workplace, Garrison said.
At 2,000 parts per million, some people might experience drowsiness or headaches. Carbon dioxide itself is not the problem, but at that level indicates that fresh air may not be diluting other impurities or pollutants sufficiently.
The levels were tested at Cox after two teachers went to principal Perry Pope several weeks ago with concerns that their rooms were stuffy. An initial test found carbon dioxide readings at 3,000 parts per million, Pope said. Garrison came in with more sophisticated equipment, which tested the levels over several days.
``Any teacher wants optimum learning conditions,'' said Pope, who had Garrison speak to the faculty about the situation.
Teachers have been advised to open their hallway doors to improve air circulation, but Garrison said there are no easy solutions for Cox.
School officials responsible for operations and facilities hope to replace Cox's worn out air handler - the mechanism that brings fresh air into the building - next year, which should help the levels. And Pope plans to push for installing windows that can open to the outside, in the hopes of increasing fresh air circulation.
The school district has had indoor air quality problems at eight ``sick schools,'' but most were built more recently than Cox, which opened in 1983.
At the newer schools with air quality problems, some teachers and students have reported upper respiratory irritations and allergy-type symptoms. The school district began a pilot project at two schools this year aimed primarily at finding a solution to humidity in the ventilation system to curb the growth of mold, mildew and bacteria.
Four of those schools had operable windows installed in the last year. Garrison said it will probably be spring at the earliest before officials know if those have helped. by CNB