Dirty schools lead to increase in asthma cases

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Dirty schools lead to increase in asthma cases

By The Associated Press

Posted on Friday, June 21, 2002

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- An increase in cases of asthma among children may be

caused by dusty, moldy school buildings, said a panel of experts at a

statewide conference.

" We're actually living in an epidemic of asthma, " said Dr. Akshay Sood of

Springfield's Memorial Medical Center. " Never before have we seen such large

numbers of asthmatics. "

State officials, health care and education professionals and families

attended the summit on health and disease risks in the classroom Wednesday.

The meeting was arranged by the Illinois Healthy Schools Campaign, a

coalition of environmental and educational activists.

Sood said increased frequency and severity of asthma is sometimes caused by

moldy and dusty environments but linking the asthma to specific types of

mold is difficult.

Betty Stone, a registered school nurse from Granite City, said asthma is now

the state's leading cause of school absences and hospitalization.

The environment of the schools may also be a factor in an increase of

workers' compensation claims.

Jim Barns, a private environmental consultant from Chatham, said workers'

compensation claims in Illinois schools have soared sevenfold in the last

two decades. He blames the use of cellulose-based building materials, which

first became popular in the late 1960s. These materials provide a breeding

ground for mold, he said.

Barns also cited poor ventilation as a common problem among schools.