Brown MS Environmental Issues
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Dr. Haynes, Toxologist Video
Brown M. S. Environmental Issues
Brown Middle School has experienced an odor that is erratic at various locations on campus since the campus opened in 2007. EPISD has continued to monitor the air quality to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Since the smell was discovered, EPISD has been working diligently to identify and eliminate the odor. Experts have determined that the odor is caused from naturally occurring sewer gases that are creating low levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air at sporadic times. When the District eliminates the odor in some areas, it then reappears in different locations on campus. Through EPISD’s continuous efforts, the smell dissipates quickly and appears less frequently.
EPISD officials have met with parents twice to hear their concerns and provide details about efforts to eliminate the odor.
EPISD is encouraging parents to submit their questions and concerns regarding the situation at Brown Middle School through this forum. EPISD will then create a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) section to address those issues and provide parents with the most updated information available.
Click here to view the presentation shown to parents at the community meeting Jan. 15.
PowerPoint Presentations
EPISD Discussion Forum
Steps Already Taken to Correct Brown Environmental Issue
Health and Safety Information About Hydrogen Sulfide
What is hydrogen sulfide?
- Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) occurs naturally in crude petroleum, natural gas, volcanic gases, and hot springs. It can also result from bacterial breakdown of organic matter. It is also produced by human and animal waste. Bacteria found in your mouth and gastrointestinal tract produce hydrogen sulfide from bacteria decomposing materials that contain vegetable or animal proteins.
- Hydrogen sulfide is a flammable, colorless gas with a characteristic odor of rotten eggs. It is commonly known as hydro sulfuric acid, sewer gas, and stink damp. People can smell it at low levels.
- Hydrogen sulfide gas is flammable at levels of 40,000 parts per million, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, from its NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. Highest monitoring levels in Brown Middle School, since air sampling began, are at least a million times less than the flammable level.
What is parts per million or ppm?
- A part per million is a unit of measurement that can be used to measure gases, liquids, and solids. One ppm is comparable to one tablespoon of salt in 16 tons of salt
At what level can sewer gas odor be detected?
- Different people have different sensitivities. As such, the odor threshold for Hydrogen Sulfide ranges from 0.0005 to 0.010 ppm.
What has been the recorded peak level of hydrogen sulfide gas at Brown?
- EPISD began air testing in early December and found the peak level to be .029 parts per million. Air monitoring will continue at the campus until it is eliminated.
How can hydrogen sulfide affect my health?
- Exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also cause difficulty in breathing for some asthmatics. Brief exposures to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (greater than 500 parts per million) can cause a loss of consciousness and possibly death. In most cases, the person appears to regain consciousness without any other effects. However, in many individuals, there may be permanent or long-term effects such as headaches, poor attention span, poor memory, and poor motor function. No health effects have been found in humans exposed to typical environmental concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (0.00011–0.00033 parts per million).
How can hydrogen sulfide affect children?
- Children are likely to be exposed to hydrogen sulfide in the same manner as adults, except for adults at work. However, because hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air and because children are shorter than adults, children sometimes are exposed to more hydrogen sulfide than adults. Health problems in children who have been exposed to hydrogen sulfide have not been studied much. Exposed children probably will experience effects similar to those experienced by exposed adults. Whether children are more sensitive to hydrogen sulfide than adults or whether hydrogen sulfide causes birth defects in people is not known.
How likely is hydrogen sulfide to cause cancer?
- Hydrogen sulfide has not been shown to cause cancer in humans, and its possible ability
to cause cancer in animals has not been studied thoroughly. The Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the EPA have not
classified hydrogen sulfide for carcinogenicity.
For information on hydrogen sulfide gas, see www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts114.pdf.
Remedies and Evaluation
Brown Middle School has been experiencing a sewer gas problems smell since it opened. When did EPISD start working on the problem?
- Since the sewer gas was identified, EPISD has been working diligently to trace and eliminate the odor. Experts determined that the "rotten egg" odor is caused from naturally-occurring sewer gases that contains low levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air. The hydrogen sulfide, in the indoor air, is recognized sporadically throughout the school day; the District may eliminates the odor in some areas, and then it occurs in a different location on campus. In recent days, the sewer gas dissipates more quickly and appears less frequently.
Who is EPISD working with to eliminate the odor?
- EPISD is working with the school’s builder, VistaCon General Contractors, and outside consultants AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc. and SGB Engineering Inc. Technical experts with the Texas Department of State Health Services have also surveyed Brown to help assess and eliminate the sewer gas hazards problem.
What has been the role of the Texas Department of State Health Services?
- The Texas Department of State Health Services’ Regional Industrial Hygienist from El Paso and Senior Toxicologist from Austin are assessing the health risks to the student population and employees. The Department also is helping to identify sources of the sewer gas hazards and providing remedial guidance to help eliminate pathways of hydrogen sulfide exposure. They plan to will remain actively involved at Brown until the sewer-related indoor air pollution is eliminated.
The El Paso ISD does not discriminate in its educational programs or employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, military status, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Inquiries concerning the application of Titles VI, VII, IX and Section 504 may be referred to the district compliance officer, Vincent Sheffield, at 881-2619; Section 504 inquiries regarding students may be referred to Cecilia Whiteman at 881-2527.
