SPRINGDALE : Museum repairs get more complex

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SPRINGDALE : Museum repairs get more complex

NWAnews.com*

BY RICHARD MASSEY

Posted on Thursday, August 21, 2008

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/234878/

SPRINGDALE — A dark, slimy growth in the Shiloh Museum of Ozark

History was identified as black mold, according to test results

released Wednesday. Black mold, which releases toxins that can

trigger allergic reactions, nasal congestion and eye and skin

irritation, can only grow indoors with moisture. And the Shiloh

Museum has had plenty of moisture over the years.

The metal roof has leaked condensation each winter since 1991, when

the museum opened. And the gutter along the west wall of the

exhibition hall, where the mold was found beneath a layer of

insulation, holds water. A contractor discovered the mold last week

while repairing the leaky roof. The museum and city engineers called

on EGIS Engineering, an environmental consulting firm from

Bentonville, to test a sample. A second environmental firm,

Occupational Safety and Health Consultants of Fayetteville, also

took a sample. Both firms issued their findings Wednesday. " It's

black mold, " said chief city engineer Ben s. He will ask the

City Council to waive competitive bidding so mold and remediation

experts can attack the problem as soon as possible. s hopes to

have the mold eradicated within two weeks. Meanwhile, contractor Kim

Hoadley of Fayetteville can continue working on parts of the roof

that do not have problems with mold.

The museum closed July 28 for repairs and isn't set to reopen until

October. The museum houses American Indian artifacts as well as 19

th- and 20 th-century newspapers, letters, tools and art of

Northwest Arkansas. The museum's photo archive, among the largest in

the state, includes more than 500, 000 images.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, mold reproduces

through tiny spores that are invisible to the naked eye. Mold spores

need moisture to grow. It's impossible to eradicate mold spores

indoors, according to the EPA, but as long as moisture is not

present, mold likely won't grow. If moisture problems aren't solved,

however, mold can expand in areas where it was already removed, the

EPA says.

Bleach solutions can be used to remove molds.

Hoadley is replacing all of the building's hip roofs that cover the

exhibition hall, offices and conference room. Hoadley also is

installing two pairs of commercial-grade fans for circulation, and

insulation between the ceiling and the attic. The repairs will cost

$ 200, 000.

s, who saw the mold shortly after it was found, described it as

looking like " bread that had been sitting out too long. " Museum

Director Allyn Lord said she was not surprised that mold had been

found.

" We knew what our problem was — we were getting condensation, " Lord

said.

None of the museum's employees who work in the exhibition hall has

had symptoms similar to those caused by toxins released by mold,

Lord said. Like s, she hopes to fix the problem quickly and

move on.

" It's not like it's nuclear radiation, " she said.