Environmental Resources
Okemos Public Schools
Last updated: April 11, 2024
The following timeline shows when testing was conducted at OPM and when the district received test results:
2024 Testing
Results and remediation for each room can be viewed in the charts below.
February 7, 2024: Environmental Resources Group returned to OPM to conduct follow up testing after Clean Team completed cleaning in areas with more than 1 percent mold in the dust, or where allergenic mold was detected in the dust.
LEAD (AIR)
No lead was detected in any of the collected air samples. No airborne limit for lead exposure exists for children, but the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) permissible exposure limit (for adults in the workplace) is 50 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air.
LEAD (SURFACE)
Testing detected two spaces with lead in the dust: the Enrichment Room results showed 11 micrograms of lead per square foot of surface area (ug/ft2) in Room 135 (Haley Blake) and 6.3 (ug/ft2) in the Staff Lounge. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services limit is 10 ug/ft2 of lead on floor surfaces in daycare spaces.
The carpet and floors in both rooms were cleaned by trained professionals from GFL Environmental on January 20. ERG then retained Eviro-Tech Services for a Lead Based Paint Inspection and Risk Assessment. Lead based paint was not detected in the Enrichment room and no lead was detected in the test.
ASBESTOS (AIR)
All airborne asbestos fiber concentrations were lower than required by the EPA in a K-12 school building, which is 0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter of air (f/cc) for acceptable air quality. Tests showed below 0.005 (f/cc) in every case.
ASBESTOS (SURFACE)
No asbestos was detected in any of the collected samples. The limit in Michigan is more than one percent asbestos in dust.
MOLD (AIR)
Tests showed the air was either devoid of mold or had airborne mold concentrations that were low and consistent with the Baxter Criteria, with one exception. The hallway outside of the library, while not exceeding the Baxter Criteria, did contain a low, but significant number of spore of the genus Stachybotrys. Some authors have described this mold as highly allergenic. Highly allergenic mold should not be measurable in any significant number, or settled dust. The issue has been remediated and our test showed no further concerns.
After clean team ran an air filtration system (scrubbers) and vacuumed the area on January 21, ERG retested for mold in the air on January 23 and no mold spores were detected.
MOLD (SURFACE)
Generally, mold was not detected in dust above the normal threshold of 1%. The presence of some mold in dust is inevitable, but with good housekeeping practices and a dry indoor environment, mold should not be present at levels above about 1%, nor should highly allergenic mold be present, nor should visible mold be present.
While test results show elevated levels of mold spores or low levels of highly allergenic mold spore, the lack of mold in the air shows that the building's filtration systems are working effectively.
November 2023
November 17, 2023
AIR QUALITY
3 AREAS TESTED
Air testing was conducted in the gym, hallway and library after reports of an odor in that area.
Air test results came back undetected.
Testing for volatile and organic compounds, using the EPA TO-15 test, capable of detecting 45 or more unique compounds including:
- Oxygen
- Lower explosive limit
- Carbon monoxide
- Hydrogen Sulfide
What we know it isn't:
- Sewer gas
-Natural Gas
- Mold
- Gas or diesel
- Off-gassing from gym renovations
- Originating from the service tunnel
- Water intrusion
November 27, 2023
MOLD TESTING
Testing was done for mold in and around the gym. Results showed normal spore concentrations. No water staining or mold growth was found in the detected areas.
Action Plan:
Phillip Peterson, ERG, is consulting with additional experts to identify the odor near the gym.
The roof ventilation system was investigated, cleaned and sanitized. The building was deep cleaned following another round of testing.
October 2023
October 17, 2023
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
3 AREAS TESTED
Rooms 120 (Mary Wier), 129 (Christine Batora), 135 (Haley Blake)
All test results came back undetected.
Tested for:
- Carbon dioxide
- Oxygen
- Carbon monoxide
- Lower explosive limit
- Hydrogen sulfide
- Temperature
- Relative Humidity
- Moisture testing
- Mold
- Pollen
-Other particulates
All classrooms have MERV 13 filter and ionization (COVID 2021).
Filters were changed in August and will be changed again over break.
Hallways have WINIX air purifiers, which the NYTimes Wirecutter lists as one of the top brands of air purifiers.
The display shows when the purifier is filtering out contaminants by turning read. That does not mean the machine is not working properly, the red light means it is actively filtering.
October 17, 2023
MOLD/CARPET
3 ROOMS TESTED
Room 120: A/C compressor leak
Room 128: Flooded
Room 135: Water
Found 5 percent mold spores which is above the recommended limit.
New carpet in OPM Room 129.
New carpet in OPM Room 129.
New carpet in OPM Room 129.
Following the test, carpet was replaced in rooms 120 and 129 on October 19 and 20. The floor was cleaned underneath before the new carpet was installed. Because of water damage, the replacement was already scheduled.
Over 2023 winter break, carpet in room 135 was replaced. Carpet in 126 was also replaced with laminate.