Toxic fume traces no longer a threat in Woodburn

After almost a week of controversy, Woodburn Hall is now open to political science department staff members.\nJeff Isaac, chairman of the political science department, sent his staff home Thursday due to fumes from a bonding adhesive used in the re-roofing project at Woodburn Hall.\n“Last Thursday it was so bad I contacted (IU) environmental management,” Isaac said. “I closed the department and sent people home because people were feeling sick.”\nThe problem continued through Friday. Isaac said he was told measures were being taken to fix the problem, but fumes were still present on Monday.\n“This has been an absolute nightmare for the department,” Isaac said. “It’s unheard of for a department to close.”\nGraduate student orientation was moved to Hutton Honors College Monday and was held in the Indiana Memorial Union Tuesday.\nIsaac met with IU architect Robert Meadows and several others Tuesday morning to work on a solution, said Robert Becker, executive associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.\n“They’re going to change the type of adhesive to one that is supposed to be water based and less troublesome and dangerous,” Becker said. “Even though the previous one was supposed to be safe.”\nIsaac said Woodburn was tested Thursday and Monday by IU environmental management at his request. The results showed traces of toxic chemicals, such as toluene, but the levels were below what Occupational Safety and Health Administration considers dangerous, Isaac said.\n“I believe the chemicals present are sufficient to make my staff sick, and that’s what I care about,” Isaac said.\nIsaac said in an e-mail that Tuesday’s meeting was excellent, very professional and constructive.\n“The IU team, headed by chief architect Robert Meadows, came up with a reasonable and seemingly effective solution, centering on stopping the use of the fume-causing adhesive using instead a California-approved alternative that appears to be safer and better,” Isaac said in an e-mail.\nIsaac said in an e-mail this story has a “good ending” because of his persistence in questioning and insisting on an alternative.\n“I hate to think of all the situations where these processes simply proceeded unquestioned and unhindered and I wish that people would be more critical and more outspoken in the face of real or perceived dangers,” Isaac said. “We do live in a democracy, after all!”\nDan Derheimer, IU environmental manager and Gary Chambers, director of construction management did not return phone calls in time for publication.