21:13, 18 March 2014

Excessive formaldehyde concentration revealed in Nizhni Cherek school

In the corridor of the secondary school of Nizhni Cherek, March 16, 2014. Photo by Lyudmila Maratova for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

As stated today by Rinat Barakov, the spokesman of the Department of the "Rospotrebnadzor" (Russia's Federal Agency for Consumer Supervision) for Kabardino-Balkaria, the inquiry into the incident of poisoning of pupils in the village of Nizhni Cherek was over: a concentration of formaldehyde exceeding the exposure limit by 4.5 times was detected in school premises.

On February 21, pupils of the 5-8 forms of the above school got poisoned allegedly with chlorine vapours; in total, 76 children were taken to the children hospital in Nalchik.

However, the chlorine content in the school proved to be below the exposure limit, Rinat Barakov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his version, additional air samples revealed the excess of formaldehyde, which is used in making furniture and paint-and-varnish products.

"It was found that prior to the incident, on February 20, the school received a batch of 12 dining tables, which had no conformity certificate. An administrative protocol was drawn up against the headmaster and the entrepreneur, who supplied the goods; it was submitted to the court; and now we wait for the court decision today," said Barakov.

Author: Magomed Tuayev

Source: CK correspondent