NBC Nightly News - Toxic mold poses danger in schools

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http://www.msnbc.com/news/822156.asp

Toxic mold poses danger in schools

Risks force kids from classrooms for weeks at a time

NBC's O'Donnell reports on the growing problem of toxic mold in

schools.

By O'Donnell

NBC NEWS

Oct. 16 - There is a different kind of threat in American schools, and it's

coming from the inside. Toxic mold is a growing problem that could prove

hazardous to your child's health.

IT'S AN unwelcome intruder in your child's school: mold. Some call

it the " new asbestos, " a trigger for respiratory illnesses, headaches and

asthma.

" There are studies that show that schools that have increased

moisture and increased molds, in those schools the kids have increased

asthma, " says Dr. Jordan Fink.

The risks from mold are forcing kids out of their classrooms for

weeks at a time.

In Bristol, Tenn., 1,100 students and teachers were detoured to the

famed NASCAR Bristol Motor Speedway for classes while Sullivan East High was

decontaminated.

In Wilmington, N.C., there is mold growth that sadly isn't a science

project.

Experts say certain types of mold are especially dangerous. Molds

give off tiny toxic spores that are inhaled. Some doctors now call the

symptoms, " mold syndrome. "

Mold thrives in moist places and is often lurking in ceiling tiles,

ventilation systems and within porous drywall. Disinfectants are usually not

enough to deal with it. Replacing walls and ceilings may be the only remedy.

Wednesday morning, in Deerfield, Wis., Laurie Steen was getting the

kids off to their newly decontaminated elementary school. She pushed for

testing after teachers felt ill and suspected mold.

" We tested and found it in four classrooms and the library, " says

Steen.

The cleanup cost nearly $25,000.

" It was more serious than we originally thought, " says

Hibner, principal at Deerfield Elementary. " Honestly, we didn't feel we had

a mold problem. "

The government says no one is tracking how many schools have mold

problems but the Environmental Protection Agency says 10,000 schools have

already adopted its guidelines for mold prevention and cleanup.

At Bristol, the cleanup is expected to go another six weeks before

students at the so-called " NASCAR High " are back on track.

.. Facts about mold

.. Health concerns

.. How do I get rid of mold?

Facts about mold

Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter

such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be

avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible

to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin

growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are

many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.

Health concerns

Molds have the potential to cause a variety of health problems. Molds

produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic

substances. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic

reactions, such as hay fever symptoms, in some sensitive people. Molds can

also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In

addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs

of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Certain molds - best known is

stachybotrys - have the potential to produce extremely potent toxins that

can cause problems ranging from sinus infections to lung hemorrhage to brain

damage.

How do I get rid of mold?

Once you have discovered the source of mold, size it up. If you have more

than a square foot of mold growth you should seek professional advice on how

to perform the cleanup. Otherwise, the experts offer these tips:

Correct the source of the water and fix all roof or plumbing leaks.

Clean all moldy surfaces with a mixture of household bleach (like Clorox)

and water, using 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water.

Add a little dish soap to the bleach water to cut dirt and oil on the wall

that can hold mold.

With good ventilation, apply the bleach water mix to the surface with a

sponge, let it sit for 15 minutes, then thoroughly dry the surface.

Be sure to wear a dust mask, rubber gloves and open lots of windows.

If you have a bad mold problem, you may need to replace tiles, wet carpets,

sheet rock and floorboards - and clean out crawl spaces.

No one with any respiratory ailments or chronic allergies should conduct the

cleanup.

Call your city or county health department if you have questions or need

assistance.

Sources: EPA; American Academy of Pediatrics; General Clinical Research

Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio