Health chief calls mold concerns 'paranoia' Teachers say air quality a problem a

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Health chief calls mold concerns 'paranoia' Teachers say air quality

a problem at Lowell school

Lowell Sun, Lowell, MA*

By Amy Myers,

jmyers@...

10/24/2007

http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_7267741

LOWELL -- Classrooms covered in mold. Across the ceilings, walls and

on items in the rooms.

That is what some staff members at the Pawtucketville Memorial

Elementary School on West Meadow Road reported discovering when they

returned to school at the end of the summer.

Their concerns prompted the school administration to bring in ATC

Associates Inc., an environmental-engineering firm to conduct air-

quality and microbial tests.

Its report, dated Oct. 2, which was given to the School Committee

last week, states that black particles were observed on the air

intakes and between the metal panels in four classrooms. Samples

were taken from the classroom ceilings, as well as the tray of a dry-

erase board in one room.

The report recommends " the interior surfaces of the unit ventilators

be thoroughly inspected and cleaned, " as well as periodic cleaning

of the ceiling and other surfaces.

The majority of the fungal structures found, according to the

report, were cladosporium, penicillium and aspergillus, which are

commonly found in the natural environment.

" Based on my observations and even the air testing, there is no

problem with mold growing in the building to a level that may cause

health problems, " said Lowell Health Director

Singleton. " Counts in the millions might be a concern and/or large

visible mold growth on surfaces, but neither exist. "

Singleton said he is drafting a letter to the Massachusetts

Department of Public Health requesting that its experts review the

testing and conduct their own evaluation of the school, a process

that has taken place in eight Lowell schools since 2000.

Principal Alison Corner sent a letter home to parents on Oct. 12

stating that " the initial results from the testing indicate that

there is a presence of fungal spores in the air inside the building,

however, their presence is consistent with the fungal spores

contained within the air samples taken from outside the building. "

An information meeting was held at the school for parents and staff

on Oct. 16.

The letter states that Singleton does not find the results of the

tests " alarming or hazardous, " and the DPH will be called in for

further review.

Some staff members, who asked to remain anonymous, are not

satisfied. They want any mold to be removed professionally.

They said that it appears to them that there is mold inside the

metal ceiling tiles in a first-grade and three pre-K special-needs

classrooms. They want to know what is above the ceiling tiles.

The ATC report notes that the company was " informed that there is an

open air plenum above the metal panels in the classrooms. ATC did

not have access above the panels of the day of the investigation. "

Yesterday, Singleton said he does not think the school has any mold

problems.

" The building is immaculate, bone dry, you could eat off of the

floor, " he said. " There is no mold or source of water that would

cause mold in the building. The results of the test were quite low,

reasonable for this time of the year. "

The staff has said that there is a pipe outside the affected

classrooms that has been leaking for years.

Singleton said the staff is confusing problems with the school's

heating and ventilation systems, which the city has been working to

correct since the 2002 renovation, with mold issues.

" It is part of the paranoia you get with mold, " he said. " It takes a

lot of mold to create a health problem, and unless you are wrapped

in plastic and breathing through a mask, you are breathing the same

air at home and in the community. "

United Teachers of Lowell President s said he is waiting

for the DPH's evaluation, which he hopes will happen

expediently, " to ensure the safety of the staff and students. "

s added that if the state's review does not happen in a timely

fashion, the union will seek other measures to meet the concerns of

the staff.