Mold expert addresses health concerns at downtown building

[Guest guest]

Mold expert addresses health concerns at downtown building

The Gazette*

By Hadish

cindy.hadish@...

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

AID=/20081029/NEWS/710299926

CEDAR RAPIDS — The state's top mold expert told Department of Human

Services workers today that they should feel safe at their post-

flooded downtown building.

Sara Colboth, health educator for the Iowa Department of Public

Health, was brought to Cedar Rapids to address mold and health

concerns at the Iowa Building, 411 Third St. SE.

Colboth talked to the 150 DHS employees who work in the building and

answered questions about tests conducted by both the Iowa

Occupational Safety and Health Administration and an industrial

hygienist hired to test the building.

Reporters were not allowed to attend today's employee meetings.

OSHA tested the building for mold after an employee complaint, but

did not issue a citation.

Colboth said tests by both entities came back positive for mold, but

the levels were considered safe.

No governmental standards address safe levels of mold and other

fungal or bacterial exposures, but comparisons can be made between

outdoor and indoor levels.

The seven-floor building reopened July 29 after being closed by the

June floods,

Ed Hermann, DHS personnel/business manager for the Cedar Rapids

area, said the building was gutted, power washed, sanitized and

dried.

Hermann said no mold was seen in the building after it was cleaned.

" We believe that it's safe, but we understand some folks are

struggling, " he said. " We don't discount that. "

Colboth said tests showed indoor mold levels were much lower than

levels outdoors.

" We consider the air in here good and normal, " she said. " We're

confident it's not mold exposure causing their illnesses. "

Marc Baty, DHS service manager for the Cedar Rapids area, said five

employees have complained of health problems.

Of those, two were sent to work in other buildings. One has returned

with no reported problems, Hermann said.

A workers' compensation doctor did not make a determination for the

other three.

Colboth, who has a diagnosed mold allergy, said she didn't feel any

ill effects from being in the Iowa Building.

Symptoms, including a runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat,

would be immediate when exposed to the allergen and disappear when

removed from the area, she said.

[Guest guest]

It's important to know that the Iowa Department of Public Health has a serious

conflict of interest.  One of the IDPH high-level employees was hired by State

Farm as an expert witness in another mold case in Iowa.  The IDPH's opinions

regarding toxic mold are in line with State Farm's point of view.

________________________________

From: tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2c@...>

Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 3:33:57 PM

Subject: [] Mold expert addresses health concerns at downtown

building

Mold expert addresses health concerns at downtown building

The Gazette*

By Hadish

cindy.hadish@ gazettecommunica tions.com

http://gazetteonlin e.com/apps/ pbcs.dll/ article?

AID=/20081029/ NEWS/710299926

CEDAR RAPIDS — The state's top mold expert told Department of Human

Services workers today that they should feel safe at their post-

flooded downtown building.

Sara Colboth, health educator for the Iowa Department of Public

Health, was brought to Cedar Rapids to address mold and health

concerns at the Iowa Building, 411 Third St. SE.

Colboth talked to the 150 DHS employees who work in the building and

answered questions about tests conducted by both the Iowa

Occupational Safety and Health Administration and an industrial

hygienist hired to test the building.

Reporters were not allowed to attend today's employee meetings.

OSHA tested the building for mold after an employee complaint, but

did not issue a citation.

Colboth said tests by both entities came back positive for mold, but

the levels were considered safe.

No governmental standards address safe levels of mold and other

fungal or bacterial exposures, but comparisons can be made between

outdoor and indoor levels.

The seven-floor building reopened July 29 after being closed by the

June floods,

Ed Hermann, DHS personnel/business manager for the Cedar Rapids

area, said the building was gutted, power washed, sanitized and

dried.

Hermann said no mold was seen in the building after it was cleaned.

" We believe that it's safe, but we understand some folks are

struggling, " he said.. " We don't discount that. "

Colboth said tests showed indoor mold levels were much lower than

levels outdoors.

" We consider the air in here good and normal, " she said. " We're

confident it's not mold exposure causing their illnesses. "

Marc Baty, DHS service manager for the Cedar Rapids area, said five

employees have complained of health problems.

Of those, two were sent to work in other buildings. One has returned

with no reported problems, Hermann said.

A workers' compensation doctor did not make a determination for the

other three.

Colboth, who has a diagnosed mold allergy, said she didn't feel any

ill effects from being in the Iowa Building.

Symptoms, including a runny nose, itchy eyes and scratchy throat,

would be immediate when exposed to the allergen and disappear when

removed from the area, she said.