School Mold Connection in Wilmington

October 4, 2002

9.27.02

Possible School Mold Connection

Several area schools are battling a growing problem: mold. This week, News

Six decided to look into a possible cause. We discovered there could be a

connection.

You wouldn't expect to see mold inside a new school, but there's plenty of

it in some snapshots (obtained by News Six) from inside South Topsail

Elementary School.

In New Hanover County, officials cite a similar problem at the new Holly

Tree Elementary School. And officials from both counties are blaming it on a

strict national air standard adopted five years ago, but relaxed last year.

It required more outside air to be pumped into a school's ventilation

system. But along the coast, there's typically more moisture in the air --

moisture that officials believe is helping feed the mold.

But a New Hanover County building inspector says don't blame the code for

the moisture in the air, blame the people who designed the air conditioning

systems. He says bakeries and conference rooms must let in even more fresh

air, yet don't have the same mold problems.

But school officials counter, " if the national air standard wasn't to blame,

why was it eventually relaxed? "

More Mold In NHC

4/19/02

By: bdavis@...

Another building in downtown Wilmington has a serious mold problem, and

workers are worried about their health. A week ago air quality tests were

conducted in the Administrative Annex Building. Almost a dozen different

types of mold were found on all three floors of the building. The worst

was on the third floor which houses the planning and inspections

departments. Health officials say one of the molds found on the third floor

can cause serious health problems that affect the immune system. The county

plans to have the annex building re-tested next week.

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