Mold sickens air traffic controllers

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Mold sickens air traffic controllers

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA*

Published on: 10/09/07

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2007/10/09/mold_

1010.html

The air-traffic controllers who manage one of the nation's busiest

air spaces say their building just outside metro Atlanta is making

them sick.

A fungus called scopulariopsis, which can cause everything from

sinus problems to lung infections, was recently discovered beneath

the raised floor of Atlanta Center near Hampton where 290

controllers and about 130 trainees work. The fungus is in an area

where air is blown to cool cables and communications equipment.

Federal Aviation Administration officials, who oversee the center,

said they have taken immediate steps to control the fungus and are

now working on a long-term plan to clean up the building.

" We don't know what steps will have to be taken for cleanup, " said

regional FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. " We cannot move to another

building because the air-traffic control equipment is in that

building. "

Atlanta Center controls high-altitude air-traffic for Georgia, North

Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and

Alabama, said Calvin , president of the local air-traffic

controller's union. The center's controllers handle about 3 million

flight operations a year.

" People come to work and soon as they walk in the building their

noses starts running, " said. " A lot of people are

complaining of headaches and coughing. "

The FAA and the controllers, who have been locked in a long-standing

contract battle, differ on the current status of mold abatement at

the center.

Bergen said her agency has already taken steps to protect

controllers' health. She said public health officials will brief

controllers later this week about findings from a survey of the mold

problem.

" We have conducted air testing, and it has had negative results

except in one case where we had positive results when some floor

tiles were raised, " she said.

Bergen said the tiles are now being kept in a stationary position

and air temperatures and humidity beneath the floor have been

lowered to mitigate the fungus.

" We've taken interim steps to make sure employees are not at risk

and we are finalizing plans to clean the system and remove the

mold, " she said.

, however, said employees are still getting sick, while

controllers wait for the agency to clean the building.

" The building is old and it's loaded with mold, " said. " We

want it fixed. "