No answer found for odor plaguing school

Teresa Hinds

Thursday, July 24, 1997 | 9:13 a.m.

The source of an intermittent, foul odor that has plagued Lake Elementary School for months is still a mystery.

The latest round of air quality tests done at the year-round school showed none of the more than 50 compounds tested exceed levels considered acceptable by OSHA.

"Right now, we don't know what the odors are," said Jan Villaire, in charge of the Clark County School District's environmental services department.

General air quality tests were first taken at the school on June 6 after several teachers complained of odors. One, who is pregnant, refused to re-enter her classroom because of the odor, Villaire said.

Those results, according to Villaire, showed carbon dioxide levels "were comparable to other schools in the district."

Maintenance workers, however, were directed to clean and adjust the ventilation system to bring in more outside air into classrooms.

Results from the latest round of tests, taken June 25, showed some compounds were 1/1000th of what OSHA considers dangerous. The samples were collected by the school district and analyzed by Data Chem Laboratories in Salt Lake City.

When students and staff return from track break, Villaire said additional tests will be taken if odors are still detected.