Letter from Environmental Consultant Sharon Bessa

July 25, 2002

I would like to share with you my professional experience regarding reentry of occupants into a building following relocation.

It has been my experience, in buildings where occupants were reentering following relocation, occupants will go through a transition period of "testing" the building themselves. Regardless of how much reassurance we can provide regarding the air quality based on the testing that has been done and the procedures that are in place to respond to air quality concerns, many of the occupants will enter the building with considerable anxiety regarding the quality of air in the building.

The occupants will "test" the environment noting every odor and every symptom they experience while they are in the building. It is not unusual for some occupants to become alarmed by even very common odors and call for building evacuation. It is not unusual for occupants to feel anxiety to the extent that they experience numbness and tingling in their extremities or face, heart palpitations and shortness of breath. Since the symptoms produce anxiety, they exacerbate the concern.

In addition, there may be some areas where the air, due to perhaps something as simple as the thermostat setting, is perceived to be "stale." It is important (and for some it will be difficult) that the occupants make a distinction between comfort issues (lack of air movement, increased or decreased temperature, too dry) and conditions detrimental to health.

While every building reentry includes a transition period of "testing" by the occupants, this transition period can be shortened and result in less anxiety if the occupants are aware of this common and expected "testing" phenomena. I recommend communication with the occupants of Chávez sometime prior to the reentry date.

As you prepare to re-open Chávez, the best approach for management of fungal contamination in the building is the District's proactive program already in place. This includes:

prevention and management of water intrusions;
rapid response to water intrusions when they do occur, and;
periodic visual inspection of areas where water intrusion has occurred.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or if I can assist further in the reentry process. I remain available for consultation on air quality issues or questions that may arise during the school year.

Sincerely,
Sharon J. Bessa

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