Chasing toxic mold

[Guest guest]

February 23, 2006

Lorelei Thayer looks in the window of her former store in

ville's Orth Building while GeBzz gallery owner Jean

on looks over the interior. Thayer blames health issues on

problems with the building, which recently was found to contain mold.

Medford,OR

Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2006/0223/local/stories/05local.ht

m

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Chasing toxic mold

ville orders owners of the historic Orth Building to clean up

its `extensive moisture intrusion and mold contamination'

By SANNE SPECHT

Mail Tribune

JACKSONVILLE — Complaints of gas smells and toxic mold in the

historic Orth Building have prompted the City Council to inform the

owners they must fix things or it will — and place a lien on the

property for the costs.

The owners said Wednesday they had been trying to eliminate the gas

smell but were unaware of the mold and will take steps to eradicate

it.

Former tenant Lorelei Thayer, owner of Gussied Up, on Tuesday

presented the council with a litany of health complaints and a

letter from a certified indoor environmentalist confirming the

building contained mold.

The building at 150 S. Oregon St. tests positive for growth of toxic

mold in all sampled locations, Marla Craddick of Indoor Diagnostics

LLC stated in her Feb. 21 letter.

" There is extensive moisture intrusion and mold contamination in

many locations of the first floor of the building, " wrote Craddick.

Craddick tested Thayer's former space on the main floor, vacant

spaces in the basement and shared common spaces on both floors. She

did not test GeBzz Gallery or the Thai House on the main floor or La

Fiesta restaurant on the third floor.

Owners Dale Bush and Joe Kantor were not at the council meeting.

Bush said on Wednesday that Thayer's complaints during her three-

year tenancy regarding the building and its occupants had caused her

to be viewed as someone " constantly crying wolf. " But neither he nor

Kantor had any idea their building had a mold issue, he said.

" This is the first we've heard about mold, " Bush said. " If there is

a problem with mold, we'll fix it. We don't want it to have mold. "

Thayer closed up her business earlier this month. The building has

left her with myriad health issues, no livelihood and concerns about

her customers, she said. Thayer has undergone medical tests to try

and determine the cause of her fatigue, slurred speech and blurry

vision, she said.

" I had to close my business because of this, " said Thayer. " I have

no reason to make this up. "

Thayer told the council she had 52 people willing to testify they

had experienced everything from headaches to nausea to mental

confusion after spending time in her shop.

Resident Clara Wendt told the council it had a responsibility to act

on " these tales of woe. " According to city code, owners of historic

buildings must protect their structures, she said.

Councilman Dick Ames agreed.

" I think we need to do something, " Ames said. " Mold causes failure

of structures. It's a public safety issue. "

The council directed city staff to send Bush and Kantor a letter

referencing the contamination and potential damage to the structural

integrity of the building, City Administrator Wyntergreen said

on Wednesday. The preservation ordinance allows the city to step in

and rectify a problem and place a lien on the property to pay for

it, he said.

" The code deals with affirmative maintenance on historic buildings, "

Wyntergreen said. " Obviously (placing a lien) would be the last

resort. "

s, County's director of environmental health, has

twice responded to health complaints from Thayer, he said. s

said he did not visually observe mold growth in the stairs, walls,

ceilings, airways or floors when he visited the building. But he did

not test for mold or gases, he said.

" The county has limited resources and no ability to address mold

issues, " said s.

Anton Abben, a certified environmentalist with Indoor Diagnostics,

said there is reason to be concerned about the building's potential

health risks and structural integrity.

Because the foundation is below grade, water flows downhill through

the bottom of the building from late fall to early spring and causes

regular flooding in the lower floor — creating an ideal incubation

site for molds, he said.

" The very first step deals with correcting the water issue, " Abben

said.

Correcting the building's ongoing moisture issues structurally could

be a " fairly substantial financial outlay, " Abben said.

The basement of the building is vacant as are two spaces on the main

floor. Most vacancies are due to a basement flood a year and a half

ago, Bush said.

Bush insisted he has maintained the building. He has reconstructed

the ventilation system and rebuilt the structural framework in

addition to other updates and modifications, he said.

" It's the only building in ville with a sprinkler system, " he

said. " And it's mechanically a fairly new building. "

In addition to her medical bills, Thayer spent nearly $1,200 for

Indoor Diagnostics' report, a charge that should be reimbursed by

the building owners, she said.

Craddick was unable to determine the source of a recurring smell of

propane or natural gas, nor could she find any elevated carbon

monoxide readings. Avista gas, employees of ville's fire

department and a health inspector have also checked the building

for " gas smells, " s said.

Tests for carbon monoxide or natural gas showed " no significant

health risk, " s said. No tests have been conducted for radon,

hydrogen sulfide or methane gasses, potential health hazards, as

none of the agencies have the specialized testing equipment needed,

s said.

Bush spent $5,000 to put new seals and vents in the building's

sewage system to try and stop the gas smell, he said.

" We've had everyone and their dog out there looking for the source, "

said Bush.

Craddick said the gas smell may have taken people's focus away from

inspecting for mold. Heavy growths of Stachybotrys chartarum were

found in all sampled locations — including under Thayer's rental

space. A lighter growth of penicillium and aspergillus was also

found, she said.

Stachybotrys in particular indicates a major water intrusion when

found growing inside buildings, she said. The toxic mold can

adversely affect humans, she said.

" The most common symptoms are respiratory distress, " said

Craddick. " People feel worse when they're in the building, then they

generally feel better when they aren't. "

Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail

sspecht@....