A Lesson in Sick Buildings Two Lindenhurst schools under siege from ailment-causing fungi ( Street and Alleghany Avenue Elementary)

[Guest guest]

(I wish there were some way to follow up on the persons exposed and see what

their long-range prognosis is. Our archives ought to be good for that.)

A Lesson in Sick Buildings Two Lindenhurst schools under siege from

ailment-causing fungi

Newsday

11-22-1992

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

----

By phine Jahier. STAFF WRITER

Aspergillus niger is stalking the halls of two elementary schools in

Lindenhurst, and parents, teachers and board of education members

are concerned.

A special meeting was held recently to appoint a committee to

deal with this fungus, which officials have identified as the main culprit

causing health problems at the Street and Alleghany Avenue

Elementary Schools.

Tests have identified high amounts of fungi and mold in the schools,

and the district already has taken steps to counteract them with

chemicals.

Aniello's, son, , a firstgrader at Alleghany, was diagnosed as

asthmatic last year while in kindergarten there. Aniello had seen fungus

and mold in the school and told her son's

doctor. This year, the physician noticed a pattern: 's asthma becomes

worse in the fall with the start of school.

" He recommended getting him out of the school, " Aniello said,

so she had him transferred to Albany Avenue Elementary School.

Tests of the school's environment were performed by Brad Associates

in Ronkonkoma. In discussing the results, company officials said the

fungi and mold found in the schools are also found naturally in the

air and do not normally cause infections.

" In a confined area, however, people with allergies, the elderly

and people taking certain prescription medicines may have allergic reactions

to the penicillum, hormodendrum and aspergillus niger spores, " the

report said.

The report, dated Nov. 6, further said that the quantities of

these three found in the schools were much higher than normal. Less than

eight colonies of molds and fungi in an area is considered a low reading.

Samplings of different areas of Alleghany school had up to 30 colonies,

while Street had areas as high as 319 colonies.

In both schools, the report said, the source of the problem was

basement crawl spaces, which have wood and metal beams and dirt floors.

The schools are built above underground streams, said Drenckhahn,

building and grounds superintendent for the district. The high water

table supplies moisture that helps both fungi and molds to grow.

At the meeting, he said that workers had mopped floors, cleaned

desktops, closets and shelving with a solution of one part water and

one part bleach at Street School. Acoustic tiles covered with mold

and fungi were taken out of the music suite, and dry wall was removed

in two bathrooms in the third wing and replaced with pre-hung ceilings.

The crawl space at Street was sprayed two weeks ago with

a product called QT, a disinfectant that will counteract the mold.

Alleghany also was to have been treated. The product becomes inert

when dry, according to a spokesman for Hillyard Industries, which produces

QT.

Another mother, Elaine Scheno, asked Drenckhahn at the meeting,

" If the basement is moist and the product will not dry, what happens to

the chemical? " Drenckhahn said he wasn't sure.

According to Hillyard Industries, the product is to be used on

nonporous surfaces. If used in a moist basement with a dirt floor,

the company said it is not sure what will happen because the product was

not tested under those conditions.

Scheno has two daughters in Street; , a first-grader,

suffers with strep throat and , a fourth-grader, has a skin

rash from September to May, she said.

In the meantime, her children's pediatrician has recommended that

she remove from the school. " I really feel like I'm up against

a brick wall. I shouldn't have to disrupt my child's whole life, "

she said.

The meeting was presided over by Macinness, president

of the school board. He said the committee was being formed to review all

the testing, perhaps come up with acceptable safe limits and to consider

long term solutions. " I want you to have all the information, " he

said.

" I don't think were talking about a major health problem, " said

Macinness, who reminded the committee that cost was a factor. " Let's try

to come up with a solution that doesn't make the district go broke, " he

said.

The committee, which consists of parents, teachers and the

principals of both schools, was to have its first meeting last week.

Ruth November, a special education teacher at school who

was at the meeting and is on the committee, said she feels there is a

problem and is worried about the staff and the children. " I'm here, " she

said, " because of my concern. "

The chairman of the committee, Craig , has a son in

Street School. Because of his son, said he has become familiar

with the problem. " It's the subject of the '90s, indoor air quality.

New York is not so versed in it, " he said.

Meanwhile, some of the mothers on the committee have said they

are learning a great deal about molds and fungi.

They are not only present on walls and desks. Joan Littell said

her daughter, Tracey, 9, " was given a musical instrument [a viola] that

had mold on it. Right after that she had a rash on her arm and under her

arm. "

Books not being used and those in the library have the mold and

fungus on them. " We bagged the old books not being used, " said Bob

Cozzetto, clerk of the works for the district.

Stella, principal of Street, believes the problem

with mold and fungi is extensive in her school. She said her staff

will examine books and other materials that are stored and in use. " We're

inventorying all the materials, piece by piece, " Stella said.

At Alleghany Avenue, principal Valle said the problem

is not extensive in his school. " Occasionally we do find mold in the fall

when we open up for the first time, " he said. " But a lot, no. "

Valle said his library has 5,000 books and would be expensive

to replace. " You're talking about a major amount of money, " he said.

District Superintendent Pecorale agrees that there is

a problem. " I believe it is a concern that has to be addressed and we

have to control it, " he said.

Pecorale said that periodic cleaning and taking care of the moisture

problem in the crawl spaces will reduce the mold and fungi to acceptable

levels.

The district has consulted an engineering firm and discussed

using commercial dehumidifiers to draw out the moisture. Another option

being considered is putting a cement floor in the crawl space, which is

expensive and difficult to do and may not solve the problem, Pecorale

said. But, Aniello said, " Money is no object when it comes to the health

of the kids. I'm gonna go for the best solution for the children. "

Copyright 1992, Newsday Inc.

phine Jahier, A Lesson in Sick Buildings Two Lindenhurst schools under

siege from ailment-causing fungi. , Newsday, 11-22-1992, pp 01.