Rockland hires firm to test for mold at RCC

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Rockland hires firm to test for mold at RCC

Lower Hudson Journal news - West on,NY*

By Hannan Adely • The Journal News • July 8, 2008

http://lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20080708/NEWS03/807080362/-1/newsfront

The county has hired an environmental consulting firm to study the

conditions in Rockland Community College's buildings, following

allegations by some workers that mold made them sick.

Colden Corp., a national consulting firm, was hired to examine some

campus facilities where health and safety concerns have been raised.

The review will include Brucker Hall, the 171-year-old

administrative building where many of the worker complaints have

originated.

" If there is a concern that is real from any health or safety

perspective, it needs to be addressed immediately and the county

intends to do that, " said Plunkett, a White Plains attorney

who is representing the county.

Plunkett said outside opinion from a national expert in

environmental testing would bring credibility and a new perspective

to the situation.

Since 2007, nine people who worked at Brucker Hall have filed

workers' compensation claims against the college for mold and

unidentified toxin exposure. Seven employees were relocated from the

building as a result of concerns about toxins.

In May, an office suite for six people was temporarily moved out of

Brucker Hall after employees there complained of nausea and feeling

ill. Environmental tests were taken at the suite, but nothing out of

the ordinary was found, college administrators said.

Environmental testing was also done at the office of RCC employees

Gluckman and Pereira-Jersey, who have complained about

health problems linked to mold exposure.

Testing turned up signs of mold in Pereira-Jersey's office, but

nothing unusual was found in Gluckman's officer, administrators said.

RCC spokeswoman Zipora Reitman said school officials welcomed the

additional testing that the county is undertaking. " The college is

fully supportive of what the county is doing and will cooperate

fully, " she said.

The environmental review began last week with a tour of campus

facilities by Plunkett and representatives from the Colden Corp.

C.J. , spokeswoman for the county executive, said the study

would be comprehensive and last at least a few months.

" We want to do a study that's going to cover any and all facilities

that come under question, " she said.

Reach Hannan Adely at hadely@... or 845-578-2439.