by DONNA SEALY

LOUIS LYNCH SECONDARY SCHOOL is safe enough to be used again if Government wanted. This is essentially what the final report from the University of the West Indies' (UWI) scientists says.

"The results of this study indicate that the levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air around Louis Lynch Secondary School are below what is considered a health hazard. The same applies to the microbiological air quality except for the area indicated," said the report, a copy of which was obtained by this newspaper.

Those areas include the staffroom, bookroom and two classrooms for which regular cleaning and a search for the moisture causing the moulds were recommended.

Concern was raised, however, about the soil.

"The results of the soil testing revealed that there is some cause for concern. This is particularly so in light of the discovery that phenol is present in all the soil samples tested. Phenol is classified as a priority pollutant due to its toxic health effects at very
low concentrations," the report said.

The team recommended further testing of the soil at the school and the entire Whitepark commercial corridor to determine the levels of phenol "to pinpoint the exact area(s) underground" from where [it] might be emanating.

The "difficulties" associated with measuring the chemical, which can be natural or man-made, were noted in the report which said that "it was not easily removed quantitatively".

The WEEKEND NATION understands this was done and the UWI team is awaiting results from tests carried out at the school and Harrison College, a control site.

Minister of Education, Anthony Wood, told the WEEKEND NATION in Parliament Yard on Tuesday night that it would be another two weeks before the public knows what will be done. He said he had mandated that the issue had to be wrapped up by month-end.

He confirmed the UWI report, as well as the prevalence survey done by the Chronic Disease Research Centre and the Pan American Health Organisation, had been taken to Cabinet but the consultative process had to continue before any decisions were made.

The extended task force, headed by Sir Keith Hunte, had to meet again.

The team, called in by the ministry back in April 2005 after students and teachers complained about feeling ill, probed the environmental and health conditions at the Whitepark Road, St Michael school in three stages between April and June 2006.

They also sampled 16 businesses, including the National Housing Corporation and Tropical Laundries.

Complaints ranged from nasal and chest congestion, tasting disorders, swelling of the face, numbness of the fingertips, itchiness of skin, wheezing, burning skin and eyes, and periodic headaches.

Last April, the first and second formers of the school were re-distributed to the other 22 schools while the third and fourth formers were kept as a unit. In August, more than 180 of them were transferred to about eight secondary schools.

The assessments involved the "monitoring of chemical, microbiological and particulate pollutants in the internal and external environs of the school and surrounding businesses".