Beller M, Middaugh J P
Alaska Med. 1989 Jul-Dec;31(4):148-55.
After the opening of a new elementary school in fall 1986, several members of the school's staff noticed symptoms they attributed to the workplace. An investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Branch (OSHA) of the Alaska Department of Labor found no major health problems and concluded that fireproofing at the school may have caused a petroleum-like odor. In fall 1987, parents reported illness in their children that they attributed to school attendance. Subsequent epidemiologic investigation found that student and staff absentee rates were not increased and were similar to other schools in the district. Testing conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) confirmed that the petroleum-like odor was due to the fireproofing. Toxicologic information and the results of air sampling confirmed that no adverse health effects would be expected from the product. By working together with NIOSH, OSHA, the school district, and a consulting mechanical engineer, deficiencies in the school's ventilation system were discovered and immediately corrected with interim engineering changes. Only by bringing multiple agencies together and openly sharing findings with concerned parents and staff were the problems at the school resolved.
1986年秋季一所新小学开学后，该校几名教职工注意到一些他们认为与工作场所有关的症状。阿拉斯加劳工部职业安全与健康处（OSHA）进行的一项调查未发现重大健康问题，并得出结论称，学校的防火材料可能产生了类似石油的气味。1987年秋季，家长们报告说他们的孩子生病，认为这与上学有关。随后的流行病学调查发现，学生和教职工的缺勤率并未上升，与该地区其他学校类似。美国国家职业安全与健康研究所（NIOSH）进行的检测证实，类似石油的气味是由防火材料所致。毒理学信息和空气采样结果证实，该产品不会对健康产生不良影响。通过与NIOSH、OSHA、学区以及一位咨询机械工程师合作，发现了学校通风系统的缺陷，并通过临时工程变更立即进行了纠正。只有将多个机构召集在一起，并与相关家长和教职工公开分享调查结果，学校的问题才得以解决。
