Shelby Job Service forced to relocate

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Shelby Promoter (News)

Shelby, Montana

Mold a growing problem for Hi-Line residents; Shelby Job Service forced to

relocate

Photo: The Shelby Job Service located at 402 1st Street. so. has been

closed until further notice due to a mold problem. They are currently doing

business out of the former Travel World office on Main Street .

By Kunka, Promoter Reporter

After a slight mildewy smell grew worse and an employee experienced symptoms

that could have been caused by mold, administration closed down the Shelby

Job Service building and moved staff to the basement of the City Hall. The

Job Service will reopen in the old Travel World building at 206 Main later

this week.

Bruce Ingraham, owner of Brickley Environmental Inc., a Butte company

specializing in remediation of mold, lead and asbestos, was called to visit

the Job Service building. Ingraham is now in the process of estimating the

extent of the damage caused by the mold growth and investigating what must

be done to eradicate the problem. According to Ingraham, Shelby's Job

Service isn't the only building experiencing mold.

Brickley Environmental addresses a good portion of the mold problems in

Montana and they are busy. For some reason, mold seems to have hit northern

Montana especially hard, even during these years of drought. " We are seeing

an unbelievable percentage of our work on the Hi-Line, " said Ingraham.

Part of the increase mold reports has to do with increase in awareness. More

people are learning about mold and looking for help to get rid of it. " Mold

is everywhere, " said Ingraham. " The problem is keeping it at manageable

levels. "

In the case of the Job Service building, the mold did not stay at a

manageable level. Toole County Sanitarian, Boumans went into the

building with Ingraham. She said moisture on the west wall probably caused

the mold. Air venting that came from the floor didn't help because it

provided additional damp habitat for the molds. Boumans said that molds are

opportunistic. Some live together, others live off of each other. The Job

Service building housed three or four different kinds of molds. " Within

fifteen minutes of walking into the building, I had a headache, " said

Boumans.

Ingraham said to remediate the area, his company would try to get air

quality back to a normal level. To do this they may have to demolish some

spaces that have mold. " Sometimes getting rid of mold is very simple, " said

Ingraham, " other times it is a major overhaul, " he added.

Because mold problems can hit anyone, the health department felt people in

Shelby needed to be educated about mold. " I have had people who have called

me because they are sick and are wondering if molds are the problem, " said

Boumans. Becoming aware of the problem is the first step people can take

toward avoiding or stopping mold growth in their home or workplace. As

Ingraham said, " You don't want to cause paranoia, you want to educate. "

What are molds?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, molds are

microscopic fungi that live on plant or animal matter. No one knows how many

species exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three

hundred thousand or more. Molds are not normally lethal except for the

" Stachybotrys " mold. Molds can, however, trigger allergic reactions, asthma

attacks and can cause sinus infections, cold symptoms, headaches and

dizziness.

Where are molds found?

Molds are found in virtually any environment and can be detected both

indoors and outdoors year-round. Mold growth is encouraged by warm, humid

conditions. In homes, mold can be found in any damp location but some places

that get overlooked are basements, and hard to see areas like air ducts,

attics and wall cavities.

How to identify mold growth?

1. Visible mold growth with a discoloration ranging from white to orange and

from green to brown or black.

2. Musty or mildewy odor

3. Respiratory illnesses in family members or coworkers.

4. Discoloration of building materials in areas where previous water damage

occurred, such as dry-wall, plaster or plywood.

5. Rotting material.

To remedy a mold problem (It is a good precaution to wear gloves and high

quality respiratory protection when dealing with mold.)

1. Identify and fix chronic leaks and wet areas.

2. Wash the infected area with soap and water.

3. Disinfect using a solution of one cup of bleach to one gallon of water

and a little detergent. Let cleaned areas dry overnight.

4. Remove any materials affected by the mold.

5. Remove porous materials damaged by the mold such as sheet rocking,

carpeting and plywood.

6. Bag the materials at the work site instead of carrying them through the

home and possibly spreading the mold.

7. Provide continuous ventilation in the work area.

8. Call a professional for extensive mold damage.

Recommendations for avoiding mold.

1.Increase airflow in the home. Don't make your home so air tight that no

outside air can enter.

2. Keep the humidity level in your house below 40 percent.

3. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier during humid months.

4. Be sure your home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans in

kitchens and bathrooms.

5. Add mold inhibitors to paints before application.

6. Clean bathrooms with mold killing products.

7. Do not carpet bathrooms or basement.

8. Remove or replace previously soaked carpets and upholstery.

For further information, visit these websites: www.epa.gov/iaq or

www.cdc.gov/nceh/asthma/factsheets/molds/moldfacts.htm.

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