Mold found in Oxnard building

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Mold found in Oxnard building

Ventura County Star - Camarillo,CA*

By José L. Sánchez Jr.

Friday, August 22, 2008

http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/aug/22/code-office-

vacated-amid-fungi-concerns/

It's usually the code enforcement department that orders people to

vacate buildings found to be unsafe for human habitation.

However, Oxnard code enforcement workers were the ones who had to

abandon their own building last week because of concerns over fungi.

The building at 241 W. Second St. was cleared out Friday afternoon

after the city received a report from an environmental services

company earlier in the day. Moderate to heavy amounts of mold were

found in four locations.

Stachybotris fungus was discovered in three places. It has been

reported to cause dermatitis, cough, rhinitis and headache. The

fungus proliferates in indoor environments with long-term water

damage.

Ulocladium fungus was detected in another spot. It is associated

with water, is found on decaying materials and is reported to be a

major allergen, according to the report by Alpure Environmental

Services Inc. of Newbury Park.

City officials ordered the report shortly after a code enforcement

employee complained that asthma-like symptoms became worse whenever

the employee entered the code enforcement building, said

Aerenlund, a city spokeswoman.

The 20 code compliance and five development services employees who

occupied the building have been moved to the third floor of City

Hall, 305 W. Third St.

No decision has been made on what will be done with the code

enforcement building. No environmental studies are being conducted

at any other city building, Aerenlund said.

Human Resources reported that the complaint about the building was

the first one the city has received, according to Aerenlund.

But former code enforcement officer Joe Avelar, who retired in 2000,

said he and other employees have complained for years that the

building was making them sick.

" When I was inside the building, my eyes would itch and I would

sneeze, " Avelar said.

" They would clean the (air conditioning and heat) filters, and

that's about it, " he said. " It's about time they moved people out of

the building it's like a prison. "

The Alpure report recommends that the building be divided into four

separate containment areas; that an extensive amount of drywall be

removed; that all exposed wood framing be sanded or wire brushed and

sanitized; and that water-damaged ceiling tiles be removed.