Doctors clash over mould; Colby comments slammed by occupational health physicia

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Doctors clash over mould; Colby comments slammed by occupational

health physician

Chatham Daily News - Chatham,Ontario,Canada

ELLWOOD SHREVE

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Some occupational health professionals are astounded that Chatham-

Kent's Medical Officer of Health, Colby, isn't more alarmed

about the mould situation at Lambton Kent District School Board

schools.

Deborah Hellyer, an occupational physician with the Occupational

Health Clinics for Ontario Workers - Windsor Clinic, along with

Miuccio, an occupational hygienist, sent The Chatham Daily

News a letter stating they were surprised to read Colby has

expressed no concerns about exposures to mould by staff and

students, which appeared in The Daily News.

Colby's comments were brought to the organziation's attention

through the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, said Bob

Kanduth from his Toronto office.

" It's quite astounding, that in effect, the medical officer of

health, wasn't all that concerned about mould, " said

Kanduth. " Certainly that's not the approach our professional staff

take. "

Hellyer told The Daily News in a telephone interview, there have

been similar mould problems at both public and Catholic school

boards in Essex County.

She said staff from these schools have had symptoms, such as

headaches and difficulty concentrating, which are consistent with

air quality problems. Staff have also had sinus problems, cough,

shortness of breath and wheezing " related to mould exposure, " she

said.

Hellyer agrees with Colby's statement that mould is everywhere, but

she noted it's more concentrated if you are stuck in a classroom.

And some types of mould are more virulent, such as black moulds, she

said.

" It's not necessarily the mould that you can see, because that's the

tip of the iceberg, " she said. More mould could be in walls and

ceiling, she added.

When asked what are the health risks of mould for people, Hellyer

said, " it really depends on how susceptible you are. " She noted if a

person has a history of allergies, they may experience a runny nose,

itchy eyes. She added if someone has asthma, the presence of mould

can exasperate the condition.

However, she noted, " most people who are exposed (to mould) will not

have any problems. "

Colby stands by his stance on this issue, noting " opportunistic

fungi are only a risk of infection to immuno-compromised (people). "

This would include people receiving cancer treatment or who have HIV

or AIDS.

People sometimes have mild allergic reactions to mould, which are

mainly respiratory, he said. There's no evidence to support hives

are caused by mould, he added.

Typically only about 15 per cent of population are considered

atopic, meaning they have the genes present to have allergic

reactions, which can include reacting to mould, he said.

" But, it's only going to be a minority of that 15 per cent that

would become sensitized and have any kind of issue (with mould), "

Colby said.

If an entire classroom was to fall ill, he said it would not have

anything to do with mould.

While Colby said you can't blame people for being concerned about

their health, he still doesn't see any cause for alarm with the

mould situation that's developed at LKDSB schools.

" If we're going to get really twisted off about these kinds of

things, people better have a look at the lower edge of their shower

curtains, cause that black stuff is mould, " he said.

Jenn contacted The Daily News about health concerns she has

with her daughter, Karis, whose class was in the large portable

closed recently at McNaughton Avenue school due to the presence of

mould.

She said her nine-year-old Grade 4 daughter has been experiencing

periodic headaches since before Christmas. Karis was also getting

rashes, she added.

" It just seemed like every time (Karis) went to school, she would

come home with this rash, " said.

took Karis to see their family doctor Tuesday and was told

there is no test to prove 100 per cent that her rash is being caused

by mould.

However, she said her doctor told her: " Definitely, the headaches

can be caused from the mould. "

The Daily News recently reported that the parents of Grade 2

Tecumseh Public School student had kept him home from school for a

week, because of reoccurring rashes.

said a friend noticed the same symptoms of headache and rash

occurring with her daughter, who also attends McNaughton.

" We never put two and two together until we both read the article in

(The Chatham Daily News), " said.

Karis' has been clear of any rash for about week, said.

LKDSB director of education Gayle Stucke doesn't believe the final

vote is in on the mould issue. She cites the fact that in all of the

schools across the district there's only two staff members - one in

Chatham-Kent and one in Lambton - out 2,500 staff, with any reported

symptoms.

There's also been a " handful of students " out of the approximately

26,000 students to also report symptoms, she added.

" We take it seriously when anybody has a health issue, " Stucke

said. " And we'll do anything we can to try to get to the root of

it. "