Industrial hygienist's study finds 'elevated levels' of mold ...

[Guest guest]

Industrial hygienist's study finds 'elevated levels'

of mold s say, 'shows what we've

been saying all along'

TownTimesNews.com - Watertown,CT

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=18109668 & BRD=1379 & PAG=461 & dept_id=162906 & rfi=6

A study by an industrial hygienist hired by former Town Clerk Ginny

and her husband shows significant mold

contamination in the Town Hall.

The bioaerosol exposure survey was performed on February 5, as the

town allowed the engineer into the building to do the tests

everywhere but the second floor, which a structural study by ph

Calabrese found was incapable of bearing a normal load safely.

" The study shows what we've been saying all along, " said Mr. .

Mr. stated that the " town is on record saying the building

is clean and safe, " but are " showing by their actions they

understand the problems, even if they choose not to acknowledge the

facts. "

The study outlined a number of findings. According to the study,

spore levels below 10,000 CFU/g are a " clean building, " while levels

over 100,000 " show moderately elevated levels " of mold colonization.

Levels over 1 million are indicative of elevated levels of

colonization. Of significant note:

* A settled dust sample taken from Board of Education files stored

in the Clerk's basement vault had " elevated spores at 1.9 million

CFU/g dominated by Acremonium and Aspergillus versicolor, " both

hazardous molds not normally found indoors.

* A sample of rotting wood from the basement wood floors had mold

spores of 504,000 CFU/g dominated by Penicillium.

* There was " visible mold growth " on the walls and ceilings of a

second storage vault shared by the Town Clerk and the

Assessor " totaling over 400 square feet. " A moisture reading from

the wood wall in this area, which is over the foundation wall, was

found to have significant dampness " indicating water intrusion

through the basement foundation wall. "

* Air conditioning units stored in the basement are in a " damp,

dusty environment with visible mold growth on many surfaces. "

* Above the drop ceiling in the Assessor's office, " the ceiling

tiles glued to the original ceiling had water stains " and a sample

of the tile showed " elevated levels of Penicillium at 1.78 CFU/g. "

* A settled dust sample was collected from a " non-traffic area of

carpet in the Town Clerk's Office, " and was found to have " elevated

levels of spores at 1.24 million CFU/g of Penicillium. "

* " Penetrations to the second floor were observed " from the first

floor, which " provides a pathway for air to move from the second

floor to the first floor offices. "

The study further stated that " mold abatement cannot be successful

until the roof leaks and water intrusion through the foundation have

been eliminated. "

Town Manager Chuck Frigon declined to comment on the study until he

had more time to go over the study to understand " what tests were

done and what requirements were used for the testing. " Mr. Frigon

was also declining comment due to the fact that the town is

currently in litigation with the s. It is believed the town

may wish to dispute the findings once they have had time to properly

analyze them.

Mr. disputed a claim by the town that the water leaks had

been stopped due to the expansion and contraction of the roof

tarring, claiming that when he was last in the building, 30-gallon

drums placed on the second floor to catch water were " overflowing. "

" They haven't fixed the water leaks, " Mr. said. " And who is

emptying those drums considering the floor of the second floor is

unsafe to walk on? "

Mrs. claimed that staying in the building is " a health

factor for all the occupants, " and the couple further claimed that

though none of the employees have openly claimed to be having

symptoms relating to mold, that several of them, whom they declined

to identify, do have symptoms such as respiratory problems. As the

employees in question were not named, there was no way to verify the

claim.

" These mold levels are not acceptable, not just for those who are

susceptible to them but long-term will affect even those who are not

susceptible, " said Mrs. .

When asked why this test was showing much higher mold levels than an

OSHA test done a few months ago, which only cited the town for bird

droppings on the second floor and noted mold on the records, Mr.

explained that " OSHA does not have the capability to do the

testing an industrial hygienist does. "

Mr. Frigon reported at the Town Council's Monday, March 19 meeting

that wooden support structures have been installed in the Town Hall

that will shore up cracked beams, which will reinforce the first and

second floors. The records from the basement have been cleaned and

will be moved to an outside storage facility " within the next few

weeks. "

The town has also had a structural study done which showed where the

water was penetrating the roof near the east dormer at one of the

corroded flashings, and recommended the town spend between $500,000

and $600,000 to replace the slate roof and flashings, " which would

make the building watertight. " However, the roof's sheeting and

rafters were in " exceptionally good condition, " with " only minor

water damage " to a few rafters.

The Town Council has also formed a Town Government Center

Subcommittee, which started meeting on Tuesday, March 13 and plans

to meet every Tuesday until they arrive at a conclusion on what to

do, according to Town Council Chairman Joe Pawlak.