EPA mold monitor arrives to begin inspecting buildings

September 11, 2005

By WILL SULLIVAN/Item Managing Editor

Saturday, September 10, 2005 11:22 PM CDT

Picayune,MS

Mike , a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency environmental

evaluation official, has arrived in Picayune to begin examining

buildings that may have molds that are dangerous to building

occupants.

said the mold everyone hears about is a particular strain

of black mold that is especially toxic. However, any molds in large

enough quantities can cause serious health problems for children,

the elderly; the immune impaired such as cancer patients, transplant

recipients and others; asthmatics and others with respiratory

diseases, and the chronically ill.

" With a lot of mold present, anyone can be affected, though, " he

said.

" I can help with recommendations to correct the problem and get them

up and running again, " said.

He warned that testing could take several weeks but that the

priorities are first public buildings such as schools and churches

and other places where large groups of people congregate. Materials

collected from buildings suspected of being infected with dangerous

molds are sent to national independent laboratories for testing.

He and City of Picayune building inspector Shane Whitfield inspected

the Chimney Square building Friday morning for mold after the

building had been closed down by Whitfield after he was informed

that toxic black mold was suspected of being present in the

building.

" The city is going to give us a list of priority buildings. ... We

depend on what a city or county wants to do, " said.

He said any building that suffered from " water intrusion needs to be

tested. Anything that got wet we should evaluate. " Anything that was

wet for two or more days especially needs to be tested,

said.

Those who believe their home or building needs testing should

contact Whitfield on the third floor of Picayune City Hall or by

calling 601-799-0601.

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