Apartment Mold a Growing Problem

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Apartment Mold a Growing Problem

- 14 May 2008

BYU Newsnet - Provo,UT*

By Houghton

http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/68570

To get an education at BYU requires going beyond basic textbook

learning and molding oneself into a better person. Unfortunately,

students often find their apartments molded over before they are.

During the winter months windows tend to stay closed, fans are

turned off and heaters are turned up. Despite the dry air, as people

take hot showers and heat up water in their kitchens, the indoors

can become quite humid.

For many BYU students, mold is a problem they have never experienced

because they grew up in warmer climates or their parents made sure

to keep the problem at bay. Now, living on their own, many find

themselves exposed to this problem and do not know how to react.

" We wanted to rearrange the furniture in our rooms, " said Chanelle

Brewer, a sophomore from sdale, Ariz., majoring in exercise

science. " As we were moving my roommate's bed we discovered the

black growth up the wall. It was blackish gray, kind of creeping up

the wall from the baseboards and really fuzzy-hard to scrape off the

wall. "

After discovering this problem, Brewer and her roommates checked

underneath all the other beds in the apartment and found mold

growing under five of the six beds. She said that her apartment had

received a flyer from management notifying their tenants that mold

may be a problem and to check the apartment.

" At first we all kind of ignored it, because we didn't think that

mold would actually grow in the apartment, " Brewer said. " From what

I've heard, buildings can be condemned for mold growth. I didn't

realize I was living in a building that could've possibly been

condemned. "

Buildings can become condemned, but according to government health

codes, it would require a serious condition in which the occupants'

health is at risk. Most of the mold growing in off-campus housing

does not fall under this category yet should still be treated right

away.

" It is the tenant's responsibility to contact the landlord, " said

M. Borkman, an off-campus housing official. " Then they're

supposed to correct it in a timely manner. "

Mold is a fungus that grows in warm, moist areas as explained in " A

Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home " produced by the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency. It grows on organic material

including walls and carpet. As mold grows, it destroys what it is

growing on. It is best to have the mold cleaned quickly as it can

cause severe damage.

" If you already have a mold problem-act quickly. Mold damages what

it grows on, " the EPA says. " The longer it grows the more damage it

can cause. "

Not only can mold destroy the surface it grows on, but it also can

cause health problems for people exposed to it.

According to the EPA, " molds produce allergens, irritants, and in

some cases, potentially toxic substances. " The EPA warns that being

exposed to mold can hurt the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs.

Brewer did not tell her apartment management about her mold because

the flyer she received alerted tenants about the mold possibility

but did not ask that they inform the management.

" After ... we realized that it was growing, I was a little enraged

that [my apartment complex] had the nerve to hand out flyers saying

that it was our responsibility, " she said.

Kings, a sophomore from Lakeview, Ore., majoring in

international relations, did not talk to her management due to

previous disagreements. Despite relations between tenant and

manager, the management must be informed about the mold because of

the damage it can cause.

" I just assumed that regardless of the problem we would have to fix

it because our management wouldn't do anything for us, " Kings said.

Borkman said that consulting the manager is the first thing that

should happen upon discovering mold. Management is under firm

guidelines set by the housing office. These problems must be

corrected in order for off-campus housing to renew its contract.

" Once mildew or mold is found, contact the management, " Borkman said.

When management is informed, it will determine the severity of the

mold and respond accordingly. The handbook requires that if the mold

is cleaned up but returns, a professional who is certified is

required to remove the mold must be notified. Borkman said it is

hard to distinguish between mold and mildew, which is why a

professional would be needed.

Because it can seriously affect the physical health of both tenants

and buildings, managers of contracted BYU off-campus housing are

expected to be aware of what the handbook requires. Despite this,

some managers remain passive with mold.

Lalor, a sophomore from Salt Lake City majoring in economics,

said his manager was unconcerned with his mold problem.

" He said 'deal with it,' " Lalor said.

Lalor and his roommates did all they could to remove the mold

permanently through proper cleaning and ventilation. They fixed the

moisture problem, thus decreasing their chances of getting mold

again. This left the situation mild, so a professional remains

unnecessary. Despite his fortune, some housing contains moderate to

severe problems and should be checked out.

Brewer said she had not told her management about her mold the first

time it was discovered in her apartment. After cleaning and airing

out the apartment, she left the door to her closet open to allow

more circulation. Upon closing the door a few weeks later, she found

more mold growing behind it. This situation should be looked at by a

professional because the tenants are following the EPA guidelines,

yet mold continues to be a problem.

The off-campus housing office tries to inform students on what to do

about mold each semester through their housing guide. Despite this,

each winter students remain unsure what to do-relying on their

common sense to get rid of the mold. Once students and managers

learn how to respond to mold they can work together to help fight

and prevent its growth.

" I had no idea what to do about the mold until after we had already

dealt with it, " Kings said. " I wish we would have known the steps

that needed to be taken beforehand. "