INUVIK - A Canadian community health expert says short-term exposure to diesel fumes at Samuel Hearne Secondary School doesn't pose a health threat to students and staff.

"The evidence is suggesting that unless you have a lot of repeat chronic exposure over a long period of time you're not going to see any health impacts from this," said Nancy Edwards, Scientific Director of the Institute of Population and Public Health for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

A group of students carry on their lessons at the library of Samuel Hearne Secondary School on Dec. 10 after being forced to leave their classroom because of the presence of diesel fumes. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

Several staff members and students have blamed illnesses on diesel fumes from the super school construction site adjacent to the building.

For weeks staff at SHSS and Beaufort Delta Education Council have been trying to find ways to prevent diesel fumes from entering the building.

The school was closed twice in early December and staff and students continue to move from classroom to classroom to try to minimize exposure to the fumes.

Edwards, who's also a professor in the School of Nursing, and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine at the University of Ottawa, said she thinks recorded cases of nausea and vomiting at the school can be attributed to the unpleasant odour of the fumes.

Edwards also suspects the presence of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the fumes could explain why students have been getting headaches and feeling tired.

She said those effects could be exacerbated because the school's air exchange system has been turned off to try to limit emissions from entering the school.

"That's not going to mean any long-term health effects but it may be making people feel a little bit tired," she said.

Edwards said people's sensitivity to the fumes could also be attributed to Inuvik's cleaner air compared to other southern centres.

"If you think of the pollution levels in many Canadian cities in the south there would be much more of that ambient exposure," she said.

"Because air quality is probably better in Inuvik, it makes an emission like this more noticeable."

Edwards said in order for students and staff to be at risk of significant health effects they would have to be exposed to diesel fumes for several years.

"The studies that have been done look at long term occupational exposure over years and years before they see any impact, compared to the period of time you're talking about.

My feeling of the (research) data is that short-term exposure is not going to have any significant health effects. It may make people feel uncomfortable."

She said it's very important the school be continually monitored to make sure there isn't an increase in exposure.

The new "super school" is expected to open in about three years.

A Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission air quality test done over several days during the first week of December showed "acceptable standards for health and safety."

The report also stated current levels of contaminants at the school "does not pose an immediate health risk to either students or staff."

Several agencies, including Public Works and Services and Health and Social Services departments have joined BDEC in an effort to find a solution. Windows and doors on the east side of the building facing the site have been sealed shut and school windows are not allowed to be opened.

Inuvik Drum contacted Roy Cole, Beaufort Delta Education Council superintendent of schools, on Monday, Dec. 15 to get an update on the situation.

He said earlier that day he had been speaking to Dr. Leah Seaman, who works at the hospital and had been studying the situation at the school to try to determine the threat posed by diesel fumes there.

Cole said he was waiting for briefing notes on the meeting and at the time wasn't prepared to talk about what was said in the meeting. He added that the BDEC is continuing to watch the situation closely.