At least 23 elementary students and a teacher were evaluated Tuesday by paramedics after reporting a strange odour in their classroom in Montreal’s east end.
First responders were called to the scene when the incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. at École Saint-Octave in Pointe-aux-Trembles.
Valérie Tremblay, a spokesperson for Urgences-Santé, said the incident is not linked to a carbon monoxide leak and the school was not evacuated.
“We just treated nausea and minor cases,” she said.
READ MORE: Carbon monoxide detectors to be mandatory in all Quebec schools
Staff and students were treated on site, but there was no need to transport them to hospital, according to Tremblay.
Montreal firefighters were also at the scene to help ventilate the site. Benoit Martel, a spokesperson for the department, said the sulphur-like smell was limited to one area.
“We had a bad odour in only one class,” said Martel.
The fire department said it conducted tests to determine the source of the odour.
“All the tests done by the fire department are negative,” said Martel.
“No carbon monoxide, no chemical products whatsoever.”
While parents were called to École Saint-Octave, most students stayed at the school after no threat was detected.
READ MORE: Some parents keep kids out of LaSalle school as questions mount over carbon monoxide leak
The Pointe-de-l’Île School Board released a statement in the afternoon on social media saying emergency services had left the school and the situation was under control.
“All students are safe,” it said.
The school board said the Gaz-Métro and the fire department suspect the sulfur-like smell probably came from a nearby refinery.
Urgences-Santé said it is also considering refineries as a source but couldn’t rule out other possibilities.
“It’s maybe a refinery. We don’t know,” said Tremblay.
The students in the affected classroom will spend Wednesday in a different room so that maintenance workers can check the ventilation system.
Scare comes one week after carbon monoxide leak
The incident comes one week after a carbon monoxide leak at an elementary school in Montreal’s LaSalle borough.
At least 43 students and staff were sent to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning after they presented with nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Twelve children had to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy and nine lost consciousness.
WATCH BELOW: Montreal mother says school never called to say her child was in hospital after carbon monoxide leak
The provincial government has since announced carbon monoxide detectors will be mandatory in all educational institutions.
Quebec schools and school boards will also have to conduct annual tests to ensure the devices are functional.
— With files from Global’s Elysia Bryan-Baynes