By PAIGE AUSTIN
The Press-Enterprise

Officials with the Corona-Norco Unified School District are awaiting the results this month from a series of groundbreaking tests to find out if recently constructed school buildings are emitting cancer-causing gas.

The district hopes to learn if common vinyl tiles and flooring are emitting low levels of vinyl-chloride gas inside classrooms at Corona High School and El Cerrito Middle School.

Levels of vinyl-chloride gas have never been tested in schools in the Inland area before.

The chemical was found in Norco High School's new science building during an investigation of contamination from a nearby hazardous waste site. However, officials with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control recently suggested the gas may be coming from the building materials rather than the hazardous waste.

To get answers, the district commissioned tests at the two other schools to see if the building materials are to blame. Additions to the schools were built about the same time and use many of the same materials.

Few students are concerned or even aware of the tests, a school principal said, but school and health officials around the nation are watching.

"If it comes out that building materials are to blame, that would be a major new study that would set a national precedent," said Mike Schade, a campaign coordinator for the Center for Health, Environment and Justice. Schade runs a national campaign to eradicate the use of hazardous chemicals in polyvinyl toys and household products. Such products are known to release certain types of hazardous chemicals, but there are no major studies linking them with significant quantities of vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen, he said.

Schade said he is skeptical the pollution at Norco High School is coming from the building materials rather than the plume of underground pollution from nearby Wyle Labs. If, however, the building materials do prove to be the culprit, the findings could have major impacts upon the use of vinyl building materials around the world, he said. Such materials are commonly used in homes, businesses, schools and government buildings.

William Bosan is the state's toxicologist on the project to clean up the pollution from the former Wyle Labs, the hazardous waste site near Norco High School. While there are no safe levels of exposure to vinyl chloride, the levels found at the school are so low, they don't pose an immediate health threat to students, he said. They could, however, slightly increase the risk of cancer for a teacher working in the building over several decades, he said.

Some countries have placed restrictions upon hazardous chemicals used to soften polyvinyl products, Schade said. Seven states, including California, are also considering legislation banning such chemicals, and several major corporations have committed to phasing them out of their products. But vinyl chloride has not been part of the proposed bans because it is not known to emit gas in significant quantities, he said.

The school district's findings could change that.

"Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen, so there is no safe level of exposure," Schade said. "I think it is incumbent upon the school district to do all in its power to remove the source whether it be the contamination or the building materials."

Despite the emerging movement to build "green" or environmentally healthy schools, school districts don't generally test building materials for hazardous emissions. Similarly, no government agency regulates the construction industry to make sure common building materials don't present health hazards via a process called "off-gassing."

In testing for vinyl chloride at Norco High School, the state used some of the newest and most sensitive tests, which could explain why vinyl chloride gas hasn't been commonly found in similar buildings with new vinyl flooring and wall coverings, said officials with the Department of Toxic Substances Control.

Tests from El Cerrito Middle School and the new science building at Corona High School are expected back this month, said district officials.

In the meantime, most students and teachers aren't worried, said Corona High School Assistant Principal Tim Sullivan.

"I think it's more of a precautionary measure at this point," he said. "I'm hoping that they find nothing so we can continue with the great education our kids are getting."

Rushing through the science building hallway to her first class of the morning, junior Jazmin Avalos said most students were unaware of the situation.

"It doesn't bother me if it doesn't affect me," she said.

Reach Paige Austin at 951-893-2106 or paustin@PE.com

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