Investigation sparks ice rink air quality bill

DanHolohan

A 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation into the air quality of Minnesota

ice rinks could lead to a new law that would make indoor skating safer.



The investigation found many rinks were either not testing for

emissions, like carbon monoxide from ice resurfacers, or doing so

incorrectly. And, state health officials were not tracking which rinks

were conducting tests and which were failing to do so.



Monday, lawmakers introduced a bill that would require rinks to

install electronic air monitoring equipment.



The bill would also lower the allowable carbon monoxide levels from

30 parts per million to 12.5 parts per million.



Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul said, "We want to make sure

folks are monitoring for CO and so folks using the rinks know that

safety levels are watched."



Canada has adopted these standards in its rinks.



The American Lung Association, along with more than 20 state

representatives from both parties back the measures.



The testing equipment would run about $2,500 per rink. The cost is

less than the amount some rinks currently spend on older and

less-accurate testing methods.<a href="http://ksax.com/article/stories/S1455408.shtml?cat=10230">http://ksax.com/article/stories/S1455408.shtml?cat=10230</a>