Students at Westford's Miller School have higher-than-average asthma rate
By Rachel R. Briere,
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01/21/2010
WESTFORD -- A recent indoor air-quality assessment at the Miller School discovered some issues including dead birds and bird waste near fresh air-supply vents.
The study conducted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Bureau of Environmental Health was requested of the town's Health Department. The test was performed on Sept. 30, and the final recommendations were sent to Sandy Collins, the director of Health Care Services on Dec. 23.
The school, built in 2003, serves about 400 students in kindergarten through second grade. More than 15 percent of the student body have asthma-related issues, which is higher than the town average. That has raised concerns with parents, the Board of Health and School Committee.
It has been especially alarming to some parents of students since the school is located near the Merrill Quarry and the proposed asphalt plant, though neither has been linked to the above-normal asthma rates.
"The mold, the birds, the ventilation, the proximity to the quarry -- all of these are things that need to be addressed," Collins said. "Anything the school can do to help with the elevated asthma rates will be done. Asthma can be contributed to a number of things. One can't assume just because the school is located next to a quarry there are more children with asthma. It all has to be taking into totality."
The air was tested for carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity. Screening was also done for total volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and there was a visual inspection for water damage and microbial growth.
Although the assessment was relatively positive, the inspection did garner 25 recommendations to improve the conditions within the building.
In the "penthouse," where the mechanical ventilation for classrooms is contained, there was evidence of birds, including two dead birds, and bird waste on the floor. The document states, "bird wastes in a building raise concerns because of diseases associated with bird wastes. ... Other diseases of the respiratory tract may also result from chronic exposure to bird waste. ... Considering the potential health impacts associated with exposure to bird wastes, the need for clean up and appropriate disinfecting is critical."
It is believed birds are entering the building through spaces around air-supply vents. The report cited the absence of bird screens over the openings, allowing easy entry for the birds.
"Dead birds, feces, pollen -- I am not interested in whose fault it is," said Wendy Brown, whose child is in the second grade at the Miller School. "I am interested in who is attending to these issues and when."
Brown said her child has had no health issues. She said no memo was sent home to parents about the air-quality assessment findings. The entire report is posted on the school's and town's Web sites.
"It's not a blame game," Brown said. "The report is not a reflection of the school staff, but this is an indication of bigger issues if we're not able to take care of facilities, especially a fairly new building."
Two of Heidi Tierney's three children attend the school. She said they both complain of "terrible" headaches on a regular basis, and her son had to have a CT scan performed due to the severity and frequency of the headaches.
"I asked that the teachers open windows, but I was told the teachers were discouraged from doing so by the custodians," Tierney said. "I wonder now if there was a connection between the air quality and headaches."
Superintendent of Schools Everett "Bill" Olsen said that as soon as he received the report, he asked that the recommendations be addressed. He said a company was at the school yesterday cleaning the air vents where the birds were nesting, and almost everything the Department of Public Health advised has been done.
Olsen said he spoke with Miller School Principal Sarah Jill Mullavey yesterday morning and told her he would be happy to speak with concerned parents any evening within the next couple of weeks.
"If parents have questions about the report, I would be willing to share what has been done to address the findings," he said. "It's a new building. The air exchange in the classrooms is pretty good. The report was quite positive."
Other than the birds, the evaluation discovered several classrooms with water-damaged ceiling tiles. It states this "can provide a source of mold and should be replaced after a water leak is discovered and repaired." It also noted that a humidifier in one of the classrooms that can "aerosolize particles and odors," and the reservoirs inside the machine, can become a source of mold.
No levels of carbon monoxide were detected in the school.
"Basically, in a nutshell, there are different items listed in the report that are being addressed to prevent potential sources for respiratory and health problems," Collins said. "The Health Department and School Department fully intend to work on the issues and address them with no hesitation."
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