Mold found in Washington Elementary

[Guest guest]

Mold found in Washington Elementary

The Evening Sun - Hanover,PA*

By HEATHER FAULHEFER

Evening Sun Reporter

05/13/2008

http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_9243662

Mold was discovered on " hundreds of linear feet " of pipe insulation

in the crawl space of Washington Elementary School, Hanover Public

School District officials reported Monday.

According to a preliminary report done in the past week by

Analytical Laboratory Services on behalf of the district, six types

of mold were found growing on pipe insulation.

Larson, an industrial hygienist who drafted the Analytical

Laboratory Services report, said he was called by the school to come

out and do an indoor-air-quality test in April.

Larson said requests for testing usually come after someone

expresses symptoms related to the presence of mold. He was also

asked to test the air in October of last year but said he " didn't

find the mold of major concern that we found in April. "

Larson said it's difficult to tell if the mold was present in

October because it's difficult to find on the black pipe insulation

in the crawl spaces under the school.

While doctors disagree on the effects of mold, Larson said, " The

only really proven health effect that people agree upon is allergies

and aggravation of asthma. "

The molds found in April include Aspergillus, Acremonium,

Penicillium, Cladosporium, Rhodotorula and yeast, according to the

report.

Other noted more severe effects of these molds include pneumonia,

rashes, hair loss, ear infections, urinary tract infections and nail

fungus.

" These types of fungi (most notably the Aspergillus and Penicillium)

are often found on water-damaged building materials and may cause

allergic reactions in susceptible persons, " the report stated. " ...

This could be a source of the symptoms reported. It is difficult to

say for sure. "

While the report stated that the exact amount of affected pipe

insulation is unknown, it " could be extensive. "

" Hundreds of linear feet of pipes are affected as far as we can

tell, " Larson said. " There's a little more investigative work that

we need to do to make sure we know the extent of the contamination

and the work it will need, but there's quite a bit under there. "

There are at least three sources of moisture causing the mold,

Larson added. He reported seeing condensation on some of the pipes,

a relatively high humidity in the crawl space and possible moisture

coming from the grounds and walls.

The moisture problem also needs to be corrected to keep the mold

away, Larson said.

The district has directed the testing lab to write bioremediation

specifications to be given to at least three contractors in order to

obtain bids for the mold removal.

" We are very concerned about the health and safety of our children,

our support and professional staff members and will act in a

responsible and timely manner, " the district said in a released

statement.

Once the district hires a contractor, the mold removal should take

about two weeks, Larson said.

" It really shouldn't disrupt anything in the school. All of the

affected insulation is in the crawl space, so work will be done in

the crawl space and controlled in the crawl space, " he added.

Once the mold issues are dealt with, Larson said he will do a follow-

up test.