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Six children passed out and four were taken to the hospital this morning after becoming dizzy and nauseated from fumes at Holy Redeemer School in Kensington during Mass.

According to officials from the Catholic Church, the pews at Holy Redeemer had been re-varnished three weeks ago. The heat vent was on in the sanctuary circulating the varnish fumes, and that coupled with the already warm day made the children ill, said Susan Gibbs of the Archdiocese of Washington.

"The combination of the varnish, the venting and the heat just overcame them," Gibbs said, adding that the children didn't complain and the problem was only recognized when they began to pass out near communion.

"They didn't hit their heads or anything, they just kind of slipped down," Gibbs said.

In all, six children lost consciousness and 12 more complained of dizziness and nausea. Four, ages 9 through 13, were taken to Suburban Hospital as a precaution but are expected to be fine, Gibbs said.

Capt. Oscar Garcia of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said firefighters that responded to the scene speculate that the varnish fumes were heavier than air and had been sitting close to the ground until the heat came on.

"It probably sucked it up and circulated it throughout the church," Garcia said, but the fumes also dissipated quickly.

"We didn't find anything toxic with our monitors," Garcia said.

Fridays are a half day at Holy Redeemer School, so things went on as scheduled after the sickened children were attended to Gibbs said. An e-mail explaining what happened was sent out to parents.