Hazardous chemical detected in classroom at Jorge Alvarez High School

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Providence Public Schools are investigating the cause of elevated chemicals in a classroom at Jorge Alvarez High School that were detected back in September.

According to the Providence Public School District, EA Engineering, a company that does testing and recommends corrective actions, shared the written quarterly report indicating higher TCE levels on September 27.

The DEM says when the school was built, a sub-slab ventilation system was installed to control gasses from contaminated soil under the school, left from the former Gorham Manufacturing Company.  That system was working consistently for 63 inspection cycles.

Tests from Sept. 15 revealed no elevated TCE levels but the room will remain closed until Friday afternoon when more air samples are collected.

Officials say hazardous materials were found at the site of the former manufacturer and remediation to the site began back in 2000, prior to the schools construction.

The Rhode Island Department of Health recommended the school close the room and notify families of students who used the classroom. In a release, PPSD said in part;  “We are writing to let you know that out of an abundance of caution we will be temporarily closing room 116 due to elevated levels of Trichloroethylene (TCE) found in the air during a recent test –the amount of the chemical found in room 116 was 3 ug/m3, which is above standard levels but still well below levels that would pose an imminent hazard.”

PPSD said it will continue to provide updates to families as more information becomes available.