New
Science Center Sickens Student
To
the Editors:
In
my four years at Oberlin, I have never been sick as often as I have
been this semester. I have noticed that my sore throats, headaches,
coughs, and other flu-like symptoms (chills and body aches) appear
soon after I have been in the new science center for any length
of time. I cannot be positive that the building is the cause of
my health problems, but several factors make me believe this is
true. Many people have told me that they are having the same health
problems in the building. This is the first semester that I have
spent time in the science center. I have two classes and a lab in
the building, and I have to spend many hours working in the Sperry
Dell lab. My symptoms last up to two days after I have been in the
building for a substantial amount of time. My close friends who
do not spend time there have not felt the same symptoms this semester.
I have not noticed my illness to be contagious to these friends.
Sick building syndrome is a common phenomenon in new buildings with
poor indoor air quality. The buildings poor IAQ could be a
result of adhesives, upholstery, carpeting, cleaning agents, or
manufactured wood products that emit volatile organic compounds.
Research shows that some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health
effects at high concentrations, and some are known carcinogens.
If the science center did not have high VOC-emitting products that
it has, I would not have much of a reason to suspect that the building
is causing my health problems.
While I do not expect that this problem will be fixed by the time
I graduate, I do think that it would benefit our campus to realize
the true cost of the new science center. While the upfront cost
of the science center is less than what it would have been if the
school had followed the example of the AJLC for Environmental Studies
building, this building has unaccounted costs that the AJLC does
not have because it has low VOC paints, carpeting and furniture
fabric and an excellent ventilation system. (I worked in the AJLC
40 hours a week all summer and didnt get sick once.)
I know that student life often leads to headaches and fatigue, but
I find it hard to believe that the change in my health is not directly
related to the change in my environment. And, I am not the only
one. If you talk to people in the library or atrium, you will find
many students who have had the same symptoms. One of my friends,
who is especially chemically sensitive, has to have his science
center classes videotaped because the building makes him sick.
I urge Oberlin to consider the communitys health the next
time it builds or renovates a building. Healthcare and worker productivity
costs should be considered as seriously as the upfront costs of
building. While the AJLC reportedly cost more per square foot than
the Science Center, its employees and students may very well be
more healthy and productive.
Anna Ruth
College senior
|