Last month at Oakland Elementary, a state health inspector found that gas fumes from the boiler room could be pulled into a classroom because an air conditioner wasn't properly installed. Cleaning supplies and pesticides can also trigger health problems, according to Allan Lieberman, a North Charleston physician who treats environmental illnesses. One teacher told him that after a janitor used diesel fuel to clean floors, students became violent and sick. Most people expect children to get sick. Hurricane Hugo didn't help.
Some local doctors report that allergies and cases of asthma increased dramatically after the storm.
Last summer, The Post and Courier hired a consultant to check the ventilation system at St. Andrews Elementary. Inspectors found ducts caked with years of mold and grime. The ducts were really terrible. The consultant inspected two other schools and found similar conditions. Indeed, district officials have known that bad indoor air is a serious problem for some time.