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News from the Caribbean as of
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School in Suriname re-opens after successful removal of toxic gas
Monday, February 12, 2007
by Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com
PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A school compound in Suriname, housing four different schools, is being re-opened Monday after the successful removal of toxic gasses it had in storage for some 20 years, authorities here have confirmed.
The National Coordination Center for Disaster Management (NCCR) announced that Friday it had successfully removed the last batch of 16 tanks containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) at the laboratory of the Institute for Physics and Technology.
The school was closed last Monday after the surprise discovery of 16 tanks containing the toxic gas, of which several were corrosed and in danger of leaking.
Fourteen hundred students were ordered to stay home, while several classes were relocated to the annex of the school in the same area.
According to the NCCR, after several experts and the National Institute for Environment Research were consulted on how to remove the containers as quickly as possible, a procedure was established to avoid unnecessary risks.
Not only was the safety of personnel involved in the operation taken into consideration, but also prevention of any effect to the environment.
Initially, the immediate vicinity was measured to detect any leakage of gas, while there was an assessment of the condition of the tanks. Subsequently the gas containers were removed and, escorted by police and army personnel, transported to an undisclosed location. The NCCR disclosed that in the next stage the gas will be neutralised.
The H2S gas, with matching measuring instruments, was donated to the college 20 years ago for research purposes. However the intended research project was never carried out and the gas forgotten until workers at the college stumbled upon them during a stocktaking last Monday.
The school was subsequently closed and guarded by armed army units and members of the Fire Department to prevent any possible foul play with the material.
Hydrogen sulfide is a common gas used in the chemical, rubber, paper industry and several other industrial applications. This gas emits an odour like rotten eggs and, if inhaled in high concentrations, can be fatal. In light concentrations hydrogen sulfide can cause irritation of eyes, lungs and throat, dizziness, headache and amnesia.
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