Pesticide cleared in students’ sickness

47 Edgewood Middle School students were affected; 6 hospitalized.

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer 10:34 PM Friday, December 30, 2011

TRENTON — It is unlikely that a pesticide application applied by a lawn care company on athletic fields at Edgewood Middle School caused students to become sick, according to a report by an investigator with Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Laboratory analysis confirmed that Momentum FX2 was applied to the field in question on Oct. 11 by BCF Lawn and Landscape. Laboratory analysis for the active ingredient in Momentum FX2 was completed on a swab sample that was collected from the classroom window where students complained of an odor. That analysis was negative, said James Belt, agricultural inspection manager.

He said its “highly unlikely” that the pesticide application in question was the cause of the unknown odor in the classroom.

Forty-seven kids were affected — 21 were treated, with six being taken to area hospitals , said Jeff Galloway, director of Butler County Emergency Management.

It was thought at the time that the spraying of a pest control and weed-killing chemical on the field behind the middle school caused the students to become ill.

Hazardous material teams and several emergency crews responded to the middle school, which has about 1,100 students in grades 5-8, after dozens of students complained of headaches and feeling dizzy, officials said.

John Thomas, a spokesman for Edgewood City Schools, said it’s likely the district won’t ever find out what made the students sick.

Hazardous material teams and several emergency crews responded to the the middle school, which has about 1,100 students in grades 5-8, after dozens of students complained of headaches and dizziness, officials said.

Belt said the only violations of Ohio pesticide law noted during his inspection were minor record-keeping problems that were not an issue during a routine inspection with this company in May.

Chad Smith, owner of BCF Lawn and Landscape, could not be reached for comment.

John Thomas, a spokesman for Edgewood City Schools, said, it’s likel the district won’t ever find out what made the students sick.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.

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