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

March 17, 2010

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.

There is SOMETHING in the classroom affecting my child and others. She has a

headache everyday when I pick her up.

1. Are there certain bacteria that specifically are known to cause headache?

2. How strongly would you advise I try to get a bulk sample (if I can even get

the school to cooperate) of the carpeting before it is ripped out? What other

sampling would be advised so our consulting physician, Dr. Shoemaker, would have

enough information for specific types of bacteria?

3. I am considering paying to have the classroom industrially cleaned after the

carpeting is ripped out, or at least paying myself to have the rip-out done to

IICRC standards, but don't have a ton of funds, as my husband thinks I am just

dreaming all this up. (We had a WDB problem in the home, which is still making

me sick -( left-over residual micro-organism fragments and VOC's, my guess).

Again, I am not believed on that, so funds are at a minimum.

4. I am thinking of hiring a local IH guy who has already mentioned the

importance of looking for stuff other than just mold - i.e. bacteria, chemicals.

5. Do you have any clients who were parents of children in Catholic schools,

where they requested IAQ investigations, who I could talk to? I may still use

the School Mold Help lady, but again, it costs money, and so, what money I have

mostly needs to be spent fixing the problem in my child, but some might need to

be spent on figuring out WHAT to fix.

6. I do NOT have any other parents on my side, as basically NO ONE believes me

-- you know, the crazy one.

Thank you,

Jolly Ave

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