Vapors Detected At Schools Are Well Below Harmful Levels

St. Louis Park students, staff and parents can breathe easier. Early test results from two schools show no signs of harmful volatile organic compound vapors, which were recently discovered in the soil nearby.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with help from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), hope to test about 270 homes, business and other properties in the southwestern suburb to make sure the fumes aren’t seeping into basements.

The residential sampling will begin in mid-January, but investigators started testing Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at St. Louis Park High School and the Central Community Center, which includes Park Spanish Immersion School.

“The MPCA and MDH recognized the importance of testing the school and community center early and expedited the test results in an effort to ease concerns regarding the health and well-being of students,” said MPCA Commissioner Brad Moore.Of the 12 samples from the schools that were analyzed, six were free of the chemicals and the remaining were well below levels of concern, officials said.

The chemicals are used in dry-cleaning, metal degreasing and many household cleaners. Investigators aren’t sure how they got into the soil, but they think there might be more than one source.

The affected area centers on the intersection of Highway 7 and Wooddale Avenue, about two miles due west of Lake Calhoun. There’s no evidence that anyone has been exposed to the chemicals at a level that would cause health effects, officials said. Outdoors the vapors quickly dilute and are considered harmless.

Two public hearings are scheduled next week. They are at St. Louis Park Recreation Center, 3700 Monterey Dr., at 7 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 15.