School Contaminated With Dangerous Black Mold

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School Contaminated With Dangerous Black Mold

Rare Mold Can Cause Breathing Problems, Bleeding Lungs

POSTED: 3:45 p.m. CST October 30, 2002

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Constant moisture and humidity may be feeding a

dangerous black mold in one Birmingham-area high school.

A laboratory in Florida issued a recent report identifying the mold as

Stachybotrys. The fungus was found in a hallway at Mortimer Jordan High

School.

Health officials say the rare black mold can cause health problems, such as

breathing difficulty and bleeding lungs. The fungus is also capable of

causing death in infants.

Stachybotrys generally grows on wood, paper, ceiling tiles and dry wall. The

fungus often grows after a flood or when a sewer backs up.

Officials said cleaning up the mold is dangerous and costly. Eradicating the

fungus in a home can cost up to $10,000.

Jefferson County School Superintendent Bobby Neighbors said Tuesday the

school district has not commissioned any testing at Mortimer Jordan.

Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press.