Mold worries father of Lake Arrowhead teen

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http://www.pe.com/localnews/sanbernardino/stories/PE_NEWS_nbmold19.f2e3.html

Mold worries father of teen

FEAR: A Rim of the World High School student's persistent ailment leads to testing by the district.

04/19/2003

By KATIE ORLOFFTHE PRESS-ENTERPRISE

LAKE ARROWHEAD - The rash on his son's arm didn't worry too much at first.

But it got worse -- a raised, angry scar that looked like a burn and spread to his chest and his ears. It only seemed to improve when he missed school.

Now, said he is sure that his son 's trouble is mold.

He worries that other students at Lake Arrowhead's Rim of the World High School have undiagnosed problems. He wants school officials to do something about what he believes is a serious problem.

The Rim of the World Unified School District is waiting for test results from a Menlo Park firm to determine if the oldest wing of its high school poses a health risk.

"We're still concerned," said Shaw, assistant superintendent of personnel. "We want to find out what's going on."

The test follows two others conducted in previous years. The tests found mold but did not determine that it was toxic. The district agreed to the recent test because some teachers were not satisfied that the school is safe, Shaw said.

Teachers helped pick the most recent testing firm. They were present when air samples were taken several weeks ago and will have direct access to the results, said Elaine Tipton, Rim Teachers Association president.

The district also furnished air purifiers for teachers who wanted them and allowed others to teach in different rooms altogether.

"Basically, anything we've asked for as a teachers union has been granted," Tipton said, adding that the teachers are still concerned and awaiting the test results.

But believes the district has been slow to act. He worries because many of the common symptoms of exposure -- congestion, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, headaches and fatigue -- may not sound alarms with other parents.

And it hurts to see that his son, who graduates this year, spends his English, psychology and French periods sitting in the library instead of a classroom.

first showed symptoms in December. They improved over winter break but worsened after he returned to school. The family doctor diagnosed him with an allergic reaction but did not specifically link it to mold. said the family is considering an allergy specialist. But 's symptoms are improving, and graduation is approaching.

According to the California Department of Health Services, it is often difficult for doctors to determine if symptoms are due to mold toxins, and many mold allergies cannot be accurately diagnosed with an allergy test.

"What really gripes me and what I really think is wrong is that they're putting all of this on my son," said. "He's the one making changes in his life instead of them making changes to the environment."

The district expects test results within two weeks and plans to follow any recommendations that come with them, Shaw said.

Reach Orloff at (909) 806-3054 or korloff@...

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It's fantastic how many ordinary people are figuring this out in spite

of the objections of incredulous doctors.

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