Classes moved due to toxic mold in Roebling school

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Classes moved due to mold in Roebling school

By: Koch, Staff Writer April 24, 2002

Tests conclude mold is toxic.

FLORENCE - Officials are temporarily relocating basement classes at the

Roebling Public School after a small spot of so-called " toxic mold " was

recently discovered on a basement ceiling tile.

Environmental consultants took a sample of the mold and cleaned it up

when it was discovered last week. When tests results Monday determined that

the mold was Stachybotrys atra, officials decided to relocate basement

classes as a precaution for a localized cleanup of the area.

" It can have an effect on immuno-compromised individuals, " said Ms.

Lee Morineli, an environmental consultant and president of Coastal

Environmental Compliance of Pleasantville. " It is definitely something that

needs to be given immediate attention. "

The National Centers for Disease Control's Web site says the hazards of

" toxic molds " (those containing mycoxins) such as Stachybotrys atra should

be considered the same as other common molds - hayfever-like allergic

symptoms and respiratory problems.

The mold was discovered April 19 by Ms. Morineli when contractors were

doing cost estimates for the cleanup of the school's air vents.

The indoor vent systems were being cleaned as part of a recommendation

from an environmental study conducted on the school by Ramm Environmental

Services of Fairlawn during spring break (March 29 to April 5).

The study was conducted after parents and teachers complained of ailments

from flu-like symptoms to headaches originating from conditions inside the

school.

Roebling School was built in 1914 with an addition constructed in 1924.

A report of the environmental study was then put together by Coastal, an

environmental consultant company contracted by the school district.

Officials said the mold had not been detected in the original environmental

study.

A public presentation on the report was scheduled to take place at the

school board meeting on Monday, but was delayed because of the additional

finding of the mold spot in the basement last week.

Board Secretary Bruce Benedetti said the public presentation will now

take place at 7 p.m. April 29 during a special meeting of the Florence

Township Board of Education.

" When we did an indoor air-quality study, the results were very clean, "

said Mr. Benedetti. " The readings for ambient (airborne) molds were greater

outdoors than indoors. It was far below the acceptable parts per million. "

Ms. Morineli said Stachybotrys atra cannot be detected in air samples and

has to be physically detected.

The mold was the size of a half-dollar, said Ms. Morineli. Although a

walk through of the school conducted by officials afterward uncovered no

other mold sightings, additional samples for testing were taken. The results

of these tests will be available within the next two weeks.

Ms. Morineli said she believes the mold developed by condensation from an

above water pipe.

Classes in the school's basement will be closed until next Monday, said

Mr. Benedetti. Officials said the classes were moved on Wednesday morning.

Officials said the section of the basement where the mold was discovered

was cleaned last week by Guardian Air Care Indoor Air Pure Systems of

Freehold. A general cleanup of the building with a bleach solution will

begin this weekend, said Mr. Benedetti.

The air vents also will be cleaned and regular walk-throughs will now be

conducted, said Ms. Morineli.

" I don't really foresee much of a problem after they institute all these

measures, " said Ms. Morineli.

In other news, school board member Berry was elected as the new

board president at Monday night's reorganization meeting.

" There were some concerns about the low test scores and it's a priority

of all the school board members to give our kids the best education

possible, " said Mr. Berry.

In addition, new school board members Federico, ph

Fitzpatrick and Ostrander were sworn in Monday night for three-year

terms.

©Packet Online 2002