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Salem, Marion County
In 2006, there was a fire at the Salem-Keizer School District bus facility. The fire destroyed seven buses and heavily damaged five others. Damaged buses were repaired, cleaned, and placed back into service. No children or parents of children riding buses have reported any health problems to the school district or to the public health division. However, some drivers complained of nausea, headaches, burning noses and throats, a cough and trouble breathing after driving fire-affected buses. Because of the drivers’ complaints, in January 2008, the Salem-Keizer School District asked EHAP to evaluate the possible risk to children who ride the buses. Occupational health concerns, like those of the school bus drivers, fall under the authority of Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division (OR-OSHA).
In January 2006, the Salem-Keizer School District asked EHAP to investigate the potential for students and adults to be exposed to mercury vapors from polyurethane flooring known to contain 0.1 to 0.2 percent mercury. This flooring, manufactured from the early 1960s through 1980 and sold as 3M Tartan brand flooring, is a rubber-like polymer floor covering found in school gyms in Oregon’s Salem-Kaiser School District. A Public Health Consultation (PHC) was developed to assess the potential for adverse health effects from exposure, and to evaluate whether removal of the flooring could pose a health hazard to the children in the school district. The potential for current and future exposure to mercury vapors emanating from the floor were the health issues that prompted the request for this consultation.
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Public Participation
- A public meeting to discuss the assessment is scheduled for Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Support Services Center, 2575 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR.
- An informational session took place on Thursday, April 20th, 2006.
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