Oaklyn Post Office to reopen Monday after mold is removed

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Oaklyn Post Office to reopen Monday after mold is removed

Cherry Hill Courier Post - Cherry Hill,NJ*

By JEREMY ROSEN

• Courier-Post Staff •

June 28, 2008

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20080628/NEWS01/806280335/1006/news01

OAKLYN — The U.S. Post Office here is expected to reopen Monday,

after contractors work around the clock this weekend to fix a mold

problem caused by water damage, according to a postal service

spokesman.

Leaks in the roof led to the musty smell that closed the building

June 20, said spokesman Ray Daiutolo Sr. He described the problem as

recent, but said contractors could not determine when it began.

Some walls, ceilings and sections of the roof will undergo some

combination of repair and replacement, Daiutolo said. Workers also

are to perform " cleaning, vacuuming (and) necessary sanitization, "

he said.

The external work on the building's roof is expected to start

Monday, when the office opens at its usual 8:30 a.m.

Daiutolo said the building is leased, and its owner will pay for the

repairs.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, potential

health effects and symptoms associated with mold exposures are

allergic reactions, asthma and other respiratory complaints. For

those sensitive to mold or with chronic lung illnesses, symptoms

include eye irritation, skin irritation, stuffiness, wheezing or

lung infections.

Daiutolo said thus far the water damage and mold present " should not

threaten employees' or customers' wellness. " He said health problems

are " generally not subject to this level of mold abatement. "

" Mild respiratory allergens would be the most severe problem, " he

said.

Camden County Department of Health spokesman Ron Pomasello said the

department is on board with the building restoration to advise the

postal service, which is handling the issue internally.

" We will consult with contractors on matters like lab results,

immediate and long-term remediation and how to prevent future

problems, " he said.

Reach Rosen at (856) 486-2456 or jrosen@....