Poor Ventilation Blamed for Chemicals in Saugus Pupils

High levels of potentially toxic chemicals found in several children at an elementary school here were likely caused by improper ventilation in the school’s portable classrooms, a Santa Clarita Valley toxicologist said Wednesday.

Gary Ordog, a toxicologist at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, said tests on nine individuals yielded varying and high levels of the chemicals arsenic, formaldehyde and phenol.

Ordog said he did not believe there would be any major consequences to their health.

“The whole problem can be remedied by getting fresh air,” he said.

Ordog declined to say how many of the individuals tested were students at Rio Vista Elementary School and how many were teachers or aides.

Saugus Union School District officials were first alerted to the potential problem in early February after a 10-year-old Rio Vista student was treated for severe allergies that were not relieved by medications.

Rochelle Neal, the student’s pediatrician, concluded that the problem might be related to the youth’s classroom environment. Neal said she then called on Ordog to do further testing of the youth and other students who complained of similar symptoms.

Shortly after school district officials were made aware of the student’s health problem, he was moved to another classroom.

Machado Environmental Corp., which specializes in indoor air quality, was hired to test for airborne contaminants.

Machado’s report stated that low levels of formaldehyde had been detected in both the portable classroom where the problem first arose and the one where the student currently attends class.

Despite a slightly higher level of formaldehyde in the student’s present room, the report stated the student had not suffered any more “ill health effects.”

Mold spores were found in the coil of an air conditioning unit, but Stephen Huff, director of indoor air quality investigations for Machado, said it was not something to be alarmed about.

The report said the portables could use more fresh air.

Huff said additional tests for the gas arsine and organic arsenic came back showing negative results. He was still waiting for the results of a test for phenol.

Ordog noted that the classrooms had been “aired out” by the time Machado’s tests were conducted Feb. 18, which probably explains why those tests did not detect alarming levels of toxic chemicals.

Mark Fulmer, assistant superintendent of business services for the Saugus district, said the district plans to hold a parent meeting today to discuss the issues.

Representatives from Machado, the district and two faculty members from Cal State Northridge’s Environmental Health department will be on hand to answer questions, Fulmer said. Los Angeles County health officials will also be present.

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Foster is a Times Community News correspondent.