|
The departments of Planning and Natural Resources, Health and Education, along with the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Agency, are continuing to closely investigate and monitor reports of a strong foul odor that forced St. Croix Central High School administrators to call for early dismissal two days in a row and potentially caused six students to feel ill.
Representatives of Health, DPNR and a US Coast Guard team working with the US Environmental Protection Agency, responded to reports from school administrators on Tuesday and Wednesday that students were being affected by the strong foul odor. On Tuesday, four students sought treatment at the Juan Luis Hospital’s Emergency Room for symptoms of nausea. On Wednesday, two students were taken to the ER for treatment of headaches and throat irritations.
According to DPNR officials, the US Coast Guard team collected air quality samples on both days and initial readings detected very low concentrations of SO2, or sulfur dioxide, a colorless gas with a pungent odor. The level of SO2 was too low to pose a public health threat, both Health and DPNR officials said.
DPNR has shipped the air samples via express mail to the Eastern Research Group in North Carolina for more analysis and has asked EPA to expedite the tests due these exigent circumstances. Once the results from the air testing are completed, DPNR will provide that information to the community.
Based on these initial reports, the Department of Education officials have made the decision to resume with Central High School’s regular schedule on Thursday. However, parents are being asked to monitor news media for a possible announcement of early dismissal and to ensure they know their child’s whereabouts, especially those who walk to and from school.
The Department of Health, as a precaution, is continuing to advise anyone who experience symptoms as a result of a strong odor to seek medical care.
VITEMA Director Elton Lewis briefed both Acting Gov. Gregory R. Francis on Tuesday and Governor John P. de Jongh Jr. today, of the incident and efforts of the local government agencies to address the issue.
Also, DPNR is reminding the public that the US EPA has commissioned a Volatile Organic Compound Study in the neighborhoods surrounding St. Croix’s Southern Industrial Complex (SIC). In recent months, in response to residents’ complaints about poor air quality and study will help identify and quantify the presence of any volatile organic compounds in the neighborhoods and closest to the SIC, including the St. Croix Central High School because of its sensitive population and proximity to the industrial site.
In addition to the routine sampling, DPNR received authorization from the EPA to begin a 24-hour sampling run in order to determine the cause of the odor. DPNR staff also participated in field assessments conducted by the US Coast Guard.
|
