(Vermont sarcoidosis cluster) 'Sick' building spurs air quality testing statewide

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http://www.benningtonbanner.com/localnews/ci_6409921

'Sick' building spurs air quality testing statewide

NEAL GOSWAMI, Staff Writer

Bennington Banner

Article Launched:07/19/2007 03:03:17 AM EDT

Thursday, July 19

BENNINGTON — Sickness possibly caused by environmental factors at the

Bennington state office complex has prompted the state to create a

plan to mitigate health issues in other state buildings.

State Department of Buildings and General Services Deputy Commissioner

J. Sandretto said the state is working to create a plan that

will focus on 50 of the most likely buildings to have environmental

issues similar to those in the Bennington building.

Buildings with HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning)

systems similar to the Bennington building are being prioritized, said

Sandretto.

" What we have done is inventory all of our buildings that have similar

heat pumps. We have had our staff check all of them and replace them.

.... We're not complete, but we have inventoried them, " said Sandretto.

According to initial reports submitted to the state by the

Group, an environmental firm hired by the state to test the building

after at least six past and present employees were diagnosed with the

rare disease sarcoidosis, problems were found with dried out

condensate lines in the heating and cooling system.

" It has been suggested, at Bennington, with the heat pumps, one of the

things they found was condensate lines, " said Sandretto. " Currently we

are looking at the condensate lines that come from the heat pumps. I

think they are probably finding units that need replacing. "

In addition, evaporation pans within the system have been found to contain mold.

" Sometimes the pan itself where you have things evaporating sometimes

grows mold. Mold was growing in some of the drip pans, " said

Sandretto.

Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny limps of cells in

various organs in the body, according to the Vermont Department of

Health. The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, by scientists

believe it may be caused when the immune system responds to something

in the environment such as bacteria, dust or chemicals.

A final report from the group is expected to be released on

Aug. 8, but interim reports have suggested the state remove carpeting

from the first floor, improve housekeeping and rebuilding the entire

south wall of the courtroom.

Sandretto said BGS does not yet have an estimated cost for replacing

necessary units, but the majority of costs are likely to be associated

with labor.

" It's considerable in terms of labor, " he said.

The state is also developing a plan to deal with indoor air quality in

all of the nearly 300 state owned buildings, according to Sandretto.

" In a more general approach to indoor air quality problems we are

developing a system where we are going to inspect — eventually — all

of the buildings as quickly as possible, " said Sandretto.

Under the plan now being developed, each state building will have

someone designated to monitor the air quality.

" The plan will designate an indoor air quality manager for each

building under the control of BGS, " said Sandretto. " It does a

walk-through where someone inspects the building and you look for

odors, stains, water damage. "

A new position within BGS to be filled this year will be tasked with

training and overseeing air quality managers and training custodial

staff in more advanced environmental cleaning.

" What we did in last year's budget, we asked for and received money

for a new position ... called a facilities coordinator, " said

Sandretto.

BGS officials will also be looking through past air quality complaints

to try and determine if there are recurring problems in certain

buildings.

Sandretto said Tuesday that the state would be purchasing modular

office units constructed earlier this year after employees were

removed from the building. He reiterated Wednesday that the decision

was not related to how long state officials believe the main building

will be closed.

" The decision to purchase the modular units was primarily fiscal. It

looked like a good thing to do, the proper thing to do. It was really

a business decision, " said Sandretto.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this great article!Blessings,BeckyLiveSimply wrote: http://www.benningtonbanner.com/localnews/ci_6409921'Sick' building spurs air quality testing statewideNEAL GOSWAMI, Staff WriterBennington BannerArticle Launched:07/19/2007 03:03:17 AM EDTThursday, July 19BENNINGTON — Sickness possibly caused by environmental factors at theBennington state office complex has prompted the state to create aplan to mitigate health issues in other state buildings.State Department of Buildings and General Services Deputy Commissioner J. Sandretto said the state is working to create a plan thatwill focus on 50 of the most likely buildings to have environmentalissues similar to those in the Bennington building.Buildings with HVAC (heating,

ventilation and air conditioning)systems similar to the Bennington building are being prioritized, saidSandretto."What we have done is inventory all of our buildings that have similarheat pumps. We have had our staff check all of them and replace them.... We're not complete, but we have inventoried them," said Sandretto.According to initial reports submitted to the state by the Group, an environmental firm hired by the state to test the buildingafter at least six past and present employees were diagnosed with therare disease sarcoidosis, problems were found with dried outcondensate lines in the heating and cooling system."It has been suggested, at Bennington, with the heat pumps, one of thethings they found was condensate lines," said Sandretto. "Currently weare looking at the condensate lines that come from the heat pumps. Ithink they are probably finding units that need replacing."In

addition, evaporation pans within the system have been found to contain mold."Sometimes the pan itself where you have things evaporating sometimesgrows mold. Mold was growing in some of the drip pans," saidSandretto.Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny limps of cells invarious organs in the body, according to the Vermont Department ofHealth. The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, by scientistsbelieve it may be caused when the immune system responds to somethingin the environment such as bacteria, dust or chemicals.A final report from the group is expected to be released onAug. 8, but interim reports have suggested the state remove carpetingfrom the first floor, improve housekeeping and rebuilding the entiresouth wall of the courtroom.Sandretto said BGS does not yet have an estimated cost for replacingnecessary units, but the majority of costs are likely to be

associatedwith labor."It's considerable in terms of labor," he said.The state is also developing a plan to deal with indoor air quality inall of the nearly 300 state owned buildings, according to Sandretto."In a more general approach to indoor air quality problems we aredeveloping a system where we are going to inspect — eventually — allof the buildings as quickly as possible," said Sandretto.Under the plan now being developed, each state building will havesomeone designated to monitor the air quality."The plan will designate an indoor air quality manager for eachbuilding under the control of BGS," said Sandretto. "It does awalk-through where someone inspects the building and you look forodors, stains, water damage."A new position within BGS to be filled this year will be tasked withtraining and overseeing air quality managers and training custodialstaff in more advanced environmental

cleaning."What we did in last year's budget, we asked for and received moneyfor a new position ... called a facilities coordinator," saidSandretto.BGS officials will also be looking through past air quality complaintsto try and determine if there are recurring problems in certainbuildings.Sandretto said Tuesday that the state would be purchasing modularoffice units constructed earlier this year after employees wereremoved from the building. He reiterated Wednesday that the decisionwas not related to how long state officials believe the main buildingwill be closed."The decision to purchase the modular units was primarily fiscal. Itlooked like a good thing to do, the proper thing to do. It was reallya business decision," said Sandretto.~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~The Neurosarcoidosis CommunityNS CHAT:- FAITH CHATS: WEDNESDAY 9PM EST. 8PM CENTRAL. 6PM PST SUNDAY 12 MIDNIGHT EST. 11PM CENTRAL. 9PM PST OPEN CHATS: THURSDAY 9PM EST. 8PM CENTRAL. 6PM PST SUNDAY 4PM EST. 3PM CENTRAL. 1PM PSTCHATROOM LINK: http://www.emxpc.net/chat/index.php Message Archives:-http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/messagesMembers Database:-Listings of locations, phone numbers, and instant messengers.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Neurosarcoidosis/database

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Moderator, please don't censor this posting. I promise I wont keep repeating this. So folks reading it PLEASE REMEMBER..

Please understand and don't think I'm crazy when I tell you that *NO MATTER HOW MUCH evidence they find the powers that be in the US will NEVER say that mold causes something like Neurosarcoidosis*

And any public official who makes a connection like that too strongly will probably lose their job. It happens all the time.Why? Because Neurosarcoidosis is a sometimes fatal disease - One of many that mold DOES cause that are being covered up.

WHY? Because once they admit it, then they would have to clean up literally millions of schools, business places and apartment buildings. There are very powerful forces that so DESPERATELY want to AVOID that that they are willing to SACRIFICE many, many lives a year to this goal of denial. As long as they aren't their own.If you follow this issue for any length of time, thats the conclusion you will come to. And its an ugly one.

Thanks for this great article!Blessings,BeckyLiveSimply <quackadillian@

gmail.com> wrote:

http://www.benningtonbanner.com/localnews/ci_6409921'Sick' building spurs air quality testing statewideNEAL GOSWAMI, Staff WriterBennington Banner

Article Launched:07/19/2007 03:03:17 AM EDTThursday, July 19BENNINGTON — Sickness possibly caused by environmental factors at theBennington state office complex has prompted the state to create aplan to mitigate health issues in other state buildings.

State Department of Buildings and General Services Deputy Commissioner J. Sandretto said the state is working to create a plan thatwill focus on 50 of the most likely buildings to have environmental

issues similar to those in the Bennington building.Buildings with HVAC (heating,

ventilation and air conditioning)systems similar to the Bennington building are being prioritized, saidSandretto. " What we have done is inventory all of our buildings that have similarheat pumps. We have had our staff check all of them and replace them.

.... We're not complete, but we have inventoried them, " said Sandretto.According to initial reports submitted to the state by the Group, an environmental firm hired by the state to test the building

after at least six past and present employees were diagnosed with therare disease sarcoidosis, problems were found with dried outcondensate lines in the heating and cooling system. " It has been suggested, at Bennington, with the heat pumps, one of the

things they found was condensate lines, " said Sandretto. " Currently weare looking at the condensate lines that come from the heat pumps. Ithink they are probably finding units that need replacing. "

In

addition, evaporation pans within the system have been found to contain mold. " Sometimes the pan itself where you have things evaporating sometimesgrows mold. Mold was growing in some of the drip pans, " said

Sandretto.Sarcoidosis involves inflammation that produces tiny limps of cells invarious organs in the body, according to the Vermont Department ofHealth. The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, by scientists

believe it may be caused when the immune system responds to somethingin the environment such as bacteria, dust or chemicals.A final report from the group is expected to be released onAug. 8, but interim reports have suggested the state remove carpeting

from the first floor, improve housekeeping and rebuilding the entiresouth wall of the courtroom.Sandretto said BGS does not yet have an estimated cost for replacingnecessary units, but the majority of costs are likely to be

associatedwith labor. " It's considerable in terms of labor, " he said.The state is also developing a plan to deal with indoor air quality inall of the nearly 300 state owned buildings, according to Sandretto.

" In a more general approach to indoor air quality problems we aredeveloping a system where we are going to inspect — eventually — allof the buildings as quickly as possible, " said Sandretto.

Under the plan now being developed, each state building will havesomeone designated to monitor the air quality. " The plan will designate an indoor air quality manager for eachbuilding under the control of BGS, " said Sandretto. " It does a

walk-through where someone inspects the building and you look forodors, stains, water damage. " A new position within BGS to be filled this year will be tasked withtraining and overseeing air quality managers and training custodial

staff in more advanced environmental

cleaning. " What we did in last year's budget, we asked for and received moneyfor a new position ... called a facilities coordinator, " saidSandretto.BGS officials will also be looking through past air quality complaints

to try and determine if there are recurring problems in certainbuildings.Sandretto said Tuesday that the state would be purchasing modularoffice units constructed earlier this year after employees were

removed from the building. He reiterated Wednesday that the decisionwas not related to how long state officials believe the main buildingwill be closed. " The decision to purchase the modular units was primarily fiscal. It

looked like a good thing to do, the proper thing to do. It was reallya business decision, " said Sandretto.