Re: Dr. Thrasher -- saving a bulk carpeting sample from classroom? --

March 18, 2010

Can your child wear an air purifier around her necK? They make them quite small.

Could you invest in an air purifier for the classroom? Is the rug old or new?

Could it be just formaldehyde? There are several natural products that do a

great job in removing mold and have no odor. As well as one that I just

discovered that removes chemicals and does an awesome job as well. It is for

rugs, upholstery, clothes etc. Perhaps that would be a cheaper way of doing it.

How about just having fans near the windows to pull out the air in the warm

weather? Of course, that depends on how much they will work with you. The

product that removes mold spores I also have used and does a great job. But if

you do not know what you are dealing with then maybe you can have someone come

in and check with a rug sample like you suggested. That sounds like a good idea

to me.

Who cares if they think you are crazy. I went through that 30 years ago with my

children. I ended up homeschooling and we had to move a couple of times because

they were not happy with us homeschooling. But we kept a regular schedule, a

strict diet and lifestyle and they pulled out of it. Now all these things are

known then hardly anyone knew about them. My kids are grateful that we fought

for them and that is what counts. They are healthy now and practice quite a few

healthy ways of life. We can be heroes to our families and teach them how to be

inspiring to others as well.

Keep up the good fight and be wise on how you proceed.

cathy

>

> I have been reading what you have said re: bacteria in a " moldy " environment,

and have a couple of questions.

>

> My daughter's classroom has a bad odor, so much so, that I complained and a

" mold investigation " (if it deserves to be called that) was conducted. The mold

counts were below 1000 spores/cubic meter (I don't think it was speciated), and

the schools environmental scientist declared that the air quality " is not

impaired " in the building, and the school will not pay for any more testing.

However, several children in that classroom are calling home with headaches

before the day is half over. They are girls who have not reached puberty yet.

Water damage was found in the roof at least 100 feet away from the classroom,

which has " lumpy " carpeting that is getting changed out in a couple of weeks.

The roof leak (I saw a tiny b/w photo) water spot was large - 5 feet by 5 feet?)

and even had a mushroom or lichen type growth on it that looked like it was

4 " X6 " or so.

>

March 18, 2010

>

> Can your child wear an air purifier around her necK? They make them quite

small. Could you invest in an air purifier for the classroom? Is the rug old or

new? Could it be just formaldehyde? There are several natural products that do a

great job in removing mold and have no odor. As well as one that I just

discovered that removes chemicals and does an awesome job as well. It is for

rugs, upholstery, clothes etc. Perhaps that would be a cheaper way of doing it.

How about just having fans near the windows to pull out the air in the warm

weather?

Wow,

Thank you . I am not giving my real name or location, just to be careful,

but they probably could dig for my e-mail if they really wanted to. Otherwise,

I'd like to thank you in a more personable manner.

I just bought a Honeywell 50250, VERY basic (doesn't filter out VOC's), but the

doc recommended that we start with something basic and lower cost, just hoping

maybe that we could get some " placebo " effect from it. At least it is a

comforting presence to the child. The carpeting is probably 15 years old, and

the windows do NOT open. The school is determined that the rug must come out

over spring break because I requested, but now I want them to slow down before

there is a nasty train wreck, which I see, but no one else does. My daughter

has ANOTHER sinus infection-thing, and I really don't want to do antibiotics

again until we do a nasal C & S. I think the doc is willing to also check nasal

eosinophils, as that can be higher with m/b exposure.

The church/school facilities manager is an accountant, and has little if any

training in buildings. It is probably due to HER money decisions that

maintenance issues have been neglected over the last several years. At the

very least, the priest could put his foot down, clean house, and provide a safe

environment for the children in EVERY sense of the word. But they only seem

worried about the money, and want to put their heads in the sand. I have vowed

that I will take this to the diocese or even archdiocese level if need be.

I have been tempted to order some Intra-Nasal Air Samplers from Australia. My

doc specializes in occupational health, but a lot of this is a little new to

her, and so we are finding our way together with a lot of research and

discussion, but it really is a two way street, and she is willing to consider

many different mold protocols out there - i think to my benefit.

At this point, I guess I must ask them to either

1. Wait until summer, as they care NOTHING about removing the carpeting

carefully to any IH standards. OR....

2. Let me pay for further testing of all classrooms that my children are in or

will be in next year (6 classrooms), and allow me to pay for proper removal of

the carpeting, if it is overly contaminated. So much for any kind of

meaningful tithe from this family for the next two years!

3. I will probably have to write a letter to the priest, and maybe even the

school board.

I may soon have to call the School Mold Help lady!

March 18, 2010

Words are so important. For example, when the 'environmental

scientist' declared the air quality " is not impaired " that is much

different than saying the air quality is " not impaired by mold

spores. "

Indoor air quality is composed of a multiplicity of factors, none of

which by themselves are the totality of IAQ, all of which combined

may be. Depending on the occupant.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

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Can your child wear an air purifier around her necK? They make them quite