An April 15 indoor air quality investigation of the North Haven High School (NHHS), prompted by the asthmatic attacks of NHHS student Anthony Hannon, found no unusual conditions that would cause respiratory problems.

However, Anthony’s mother Terry Hannon was upset that the family was not present for the investigation, and believes that air quality and hidden mold problems persist within the school.

Since his freshman year Anthony has suffered a series of worsening asthmatic attacks inside the high school, he has said, because of the school’s air quality, which ultimately necessitated his January 2009 enrollment in Branford High School. Terry Hannon filed several complaints with the Quinnipiac Valley Health District earlier this year, leading to walk-through inspections by registered sanitarian John Laudano in May, September and January. Laudano found nothing of concern.

Nevertheless, Terry continued to request an air quality investigation of the school. Superintendent Sara Querfeld eventually agreed and hired Mystic Air Quality Consultants, Inc., of Groton, to perform the test.

Two examinations were performed: ambient gas and vapor air were sampled, and fungal spore counts were measured.

In a report sent to the North Haven superintendent’s office on April 26, Christopher Eident, CEO of Mystic Air Quality Consultants, wrote that NHHS’s ambient gas and vapor air were sampled using direct reading instruments that measured carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, temperature, humidity, total hydrocarbons, combustible gases, hydrogen sulfide, respirable particulates, and percent oxygen.

“At the time of the survey, all levels were within applicable standards,” Eident wrote, meaning that the ambient gas and vapor air samples were within safe levels. “No objectionable odors were noted during the time of the survey.”

Eident wrote that fungal spores samplings were collected with Air-O-Cell cassettes and microscopically analyzed at 600-times magnification by SanAir Technologies Laboratory, Inc., an American Industrial Hygiene Association accredited laboratory in Virginia.

According to SanAir Technologies Laboratory’s results, included with Eident’s report, fungal spore samplings were collected in the school’s main entrance, auditorium, rear lobby area, cafeteria, guidance and reception area, science room 311, biology lab room 323, and the second floor library reception area, as well as at two outside locations for reference.

“The interior sample results depicted lower total spore counts in comparison to the exterior reference samples,” Eident wrote, meaning the spots measured inside the high school actually contained less fungal spores than the spots measured outside as a control.

“Additionally, based on the limited qualification of the genus identification, the interior samples exhibited similar biodiversity in relation to the exterior references sample,” Eident wrote, though he added, “Results reflect conditions only at the time samples were taken.”

Mystic Air Quality Consultants saw nothing dangerous during their testing.

“No signs of visible microbial growth or significant water damage were noted in any of the selected sample locations,” Eident wrote.

A small amount of water staining was found in the entrance corridor to the library, Eident added. The corridor contains an exterior door which leads to an exterior, second floor patio, and building representatives told Eident that small amounts of water can enter through the door by wind driven rain.

Eident recommended that the carpet section directly inside the door be removed, and a small tile landing be installed instead. The door manufacturer should be contacted to ensure proper installation of the landing, Eident added, and to install a more effective seal for the door.

Eident also recommended that building personnel perform regular building walk-throughs, and that any water-damaged materials they discover be removed or cleaned.

“I’m delighted that the test showed no problems,” Querfeld said last week. “I’m very pleased with it.”

The test results were sent to QVHD director Leslie Balch. “The best way to look at it was that they were unremarkable,” she said last week. “They didn’t give me any indication that we should look at anything more. They were a confirmation of what we’d seen in our multiple walk-throughs.”

Anthony’s mother said she was surprised at the company utilized, and wished she had been present for the test.

“When this was first told to us that they were going to finally test the air quality, Sara Querfeld stated that they were going to utilize either UConn or Yale Envrionmental,” Terry Hannon wrote in an email to the Citizen. “We requested to be present. At that time Sara Querfeld said that that should not be a problem.”

“On Monday of this week I received a call from Patricia Brozek stating that the air quality testing had been completed on April 15 and that the results were back and that I could pick up a copy if I chose to do so,” Hannon added.

She is uncomfortable with the results.

“At this point, I feel as if there are many unanswered questions regarding this whole situation and don’t feel that they held up their end of the bargain by letting us know when testing was going to occur,” she wrote. “I also feel that a lot of cleaning and changing of carpet was done just prior to testing the air. This is a great concern. Why would they need to do these things just before testing? Again, I feel like they are hiding a lot from the town.”