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Inside: Mold
Mike Kennedy
American School & University
MOLD
DISPLACES STUDENTS
The discovery of potentially
hazardous mold in several facilities has been serious enough
to force schools to relocate students until the
contamination can be removed. Some recent cases:
▪Westport,
Connecticut, Elementary School Mold Dec. 19, 2007
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In St. Charles, Ill., officials
found dangerous mold in St. Charles East High School and
closed the facility in the Spring. The school remains
closed, and millions are being spent to remove the mold
and fix the building. More than 2,000 students had to
finish the year sharing space with St. Charles North
High School. This fall, East's students relocated to the
district's Wredling Middle School.
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In Romeo, Mich., Washington
Elementary School never opened this fall after mold was
discovered. The school's 500 students were dispersed to
other district schools; the building is expected to
reopen in January. The cost of removing the mold has
exceeded $1 million.
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In the Los Angeles district,
plans to convert a former office building into a high
school faced delays after workers found a significant
presence of mold.
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In Overland Park, Kan., Apache
Elementary School was closed in September after elevated
levels of mold were detected. The students were
relocated indefinitely to a vacant elementary school.
SCHOOLS OFTEN
FERTILE GROUND FOR MOLD
Mold is found virtually everywhere,
so no one should be alarmed to learn that it can be detected
in schools.
Potential reasons: Many school
facilities have a history of inadequate or deferred
maintenance; often, in the building boom of the 1950s and
1960s, schools were built quickly with cheap building
materials. In addition, construction practices in the 1970s
through the 1990s “resulted in buildings that are tightly
sealed, but may lack adequate ventilation, potentially
leading to moisture buildup,” according to the
Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) document, “Mold
Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.”
Factors such as those above make
some buildings more susceptible to dangerous mold growth. In
addition, moisture problems in portable classrooms and other
temporary facilities have often been associated with mold
problems, according to the EPA.
MINIMIZING
MOLD
The Environmental Protection Agency
offers tips for schools trying to reduce or eliminate mold:
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Reduce indoor humidity.
Vent showers and other moisture-generating sources to
the outside; control humidity levels with air
conditioners and de-humidifiers.
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Inspect the building for
signs of mold, moisture, leaks or spills. Check for
moldy odors; look for stains or discoloration on
ceilings, walls, floors and windowsills.
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Respond promptly when
you see signs of moisture or mold, or when leaks or
spills occur. Clean and dry any damp or wet building
materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to
prevent mold growth.
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Prevent moisture
condensation. Adding insulation reduces the
potential for condensation on cold surfaces.
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Maintain flooring and
carpeting. Remove spots and stains immediately. Use
care to prevent excess moisture.
A GROWING
PROBLEM
One of the toxic molds found in
schools in St. Charles, Ill.; Romeo, Mich.; and other
buildings that have been closed for remediation is
stachybotrys chartarum (also known as stachybotrys atra), a
greenish-black growth.
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Where it grows:
Fiberboard; gypsum board; paper; dust; lint; other
material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content.
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What helps it grow:
Water damage; excessive humidity; water leaks;
condensation; water infiltration; flooding.
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What it can do to you:
Allergic rhinitis (cold-like symptoms); dermatitis
(rashes); sinusitis; conjunctivitis; aggravation of
asthma; fatigue; inability to concentrate.
Source: Centers For Disease
Control
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You can also email pictures of your mold problems
in jpeg file format as email attachments. |