Mold spores found in school

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I am going to attempt to translate this news article KC just posted:

A private engineering and consulting firm has found " slightly "

elevated levels of mold spores at Elementary School in East

Knox County, according to a report released Tuesday.

TRANSLATION: USE THE WORD " SLIGHTLY " SO AS NOT TO ALARM THE PARENTS AND

TEACHERS

The report, prepared by Mactec Engineering and Consulting Inc.,

recommends further testing to explain the elevated amounts of

Aspergillus/Penicillium-like mold spores found inside the school.

TRANSLATION: IT'S PRETTY BAD AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE NO ONE ORDERS AND

PAYS FOR MORE EXTENSIVE TESTING FOR A " SLIGHT " PROBLEM

The health risks, according to the report, are difficult to

determine.

TRANSLATION: THE REPORT IS WRITTEN AMBIGUOUSLY SO IN CASE SOME TEACHERS OR

PARENTS GET AHOLD OF IT - THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVE THE MOLD IS CAUSING

THEIR ILLNESSES.

Russ Oaks, spokesman for the school system, said the district plans

to have Mactec perform more tests, and he cautioned parents against

panicking.

TRANSLATION: IT'S A BAD ONE, IF MORE TESTS ARE NEEDED AND THEY ARE CONCERNED

PARENTS WILL PANIC.

" All in all this is a very positive report, " Oaks said.

TRANSLATION: DOES THAT MEAN THE SPORE COUNT WAS POSITIVELY INDICATIVE OF A

MAJOR PROBLEM?

Some parents, however, criticized the district for testing only one

upstairs classroom and the adjacent hallway.

TRANSLATION: IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T TEST

" That's not where the main problems are. The main problems are

downstairs, " said Conley Underwood, whose two daughters attend

Elementary.

TRANSLATION: DO NOT TEST WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED - SERVES TO FURTHER CONFUSE

THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS, TAKES THE FOCUS OFF OF THE MOLD PROBLEM ITSELF, AND

ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF DECEIT TO FIGHT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REALLY

GOING ON.

Underwood's wife, Regina, said their older daughter, who is in

second grade and attends class downstairs, has had ear infections

and headaches all year. She suspects mold as the culprit.

TRANSLATION: THIS IS THE PARENT WHO WILL SOON HAVE A BULLSEYE PUT ON HER

BACK BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

" I don't have any documentation, " she said, " but being a mother and

knowing your child and knowing the difference between when she's

home for summer and when she's there. "

TRANSLATION: THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEYS ARE CLIPPING THIS STATEMENT FOR

THEIR FILES AS I TYPE.

Oaks said the district tested only Room 206 and a hallway because

that was the area generating complaints from some parents.

TRANSLATION: I BET HE CAN'T NAME ONE PARENT WHO COMPLAINED OF THAT SPECIFIC

AREA.

He said

district officials now are considering testing more parts of the

school.

TRANSLATION: " CONSIDERING " = THE ATTORNEYS ARE SAYING DON'T TEST.

Although Mactec's tests revealed elevated levels of mold, the

investigator could not see any mold - a good sign, according to

Oaks.

TRANSLATION: BECAUSE HE DID NOT TEST WHERE THE MOLD WAS GROWING IN THE

LOWER CLASSROOMS.

The health problems associated with mold vary from person to person.

" It is not possible to determine 'safer' or 'unsafe' levels of

exposure for people in general, " the report says in part.

TRANSLATION: MAJOR DISCLAIMER OF NO LIABILITY

Martha Keel, a professor of housing and environmental health with

the University of Tennessee Extension, said mold is everywhere, and

it is not a problem for most people.

TRANSLATION: UBIQUOUS MEANS MOLD IS NOT HARMFUL

" As far as mold being a health risk, it's like an allergen, " Keel

said. " Some people may be affected. Most probably won't.

TRANSLATION: " MOST WON'T BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPOSED TO A WATER

DAMAGED BUILDING SUCH AS THIS ONE.

" As far as serious health effects, " she added, " they're so rare, and

most of the health effects could be runny eyes, upper-respiratory

problems. If you have somebody with pretty severe asthma, it could

trigger asthma attacks. "

TRANSLATION: WHERE IS THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS ONE?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site describes

Aspergillus and Penicillium as " common indoor molds " that thrive

best in " warm, damp and humid conditions. "

TRANSLATION: THIS SCHOOL HAS " WARM, DAMP AND HUMID CONDITIONS " MEANING

PENN/ASP IS THRIVING AND PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF ILLNESS.

Doug Jerger, a senior technical consultant with Shaw Environmental

Inc. in Knoxville, a company that does similar testing to Mactec,

said he agreed that more tests should be done.

TRANSLATION: MORE TESTS INDICATING MAJOR PROBLEM.

" Depending on what species they are, it could be problematic, "

Jerger said after reviewing Mactec's 13-page report. " It's certainly

worthy of additional sampling. "

TRANSLATION: THIS GUY HAS SEEN THE REPORT AND KNOWS ITS A PROBLEM.

In February, West Valley Middle School was shut down for cleaning

for a day after Mactec found " small amounts " of Aspergillus in two

classrooms and " higher concentrations " in another.

TRANSLATION: " HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS " NEED I SAY MORE?

, the principal of Elementary, said she has

received a handful of complaints from parents concerned about mold.

TRANSLATION: IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE OR TWO PARENTS COMPLAINING, THERE IS

A VERY SICK TEACHER SOMEWHERE IN THIS SCENARIO.

" Anytime that we have a concern, we report that immediately, " she

said.

TRANLATION: " WE REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY " TO OUR SCHOOL ATTORNEY SO WE CAN

SHUT THIS DOWN AND THE SICK TEACHER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE WC.

FROM THE WAY THEY APPARENTLY ARE HANDLING THIS SCHOOL.....I SMELL A MAJOR

LAWSUIT IN THEIR FUTURE.

ka Mellon may be reached at 865-342-6334.

[Guest guest]

Mold spores found in school

More testing is under consideration for Elementary

By ERICKA MELLON, mellone@...

April 5, 2006

Knoxville,TN

http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/local_news/article/0,1406,KNS_347_4595983

,00.html

A private engineering and consulting firm has found " slightly "

elevated levels of mold spores at Elementary School in East

Knox County, according to a report released Tuesday.

The report, prepared by Mactec Engineering and Consulting Inc.,

recommends further testing to explain the elevated amounts of

Aspergillus/Penicillium-like mold spores found inside the school.

The health risks, according to the report, are difficult to

determine.

Russ Oaks, spokesman for the school system, said the district plans

to have Mactec perform more tests, and he cautioned parents against

panicking.

" All in all this is a very positive report, " Oaks said.

Some parents, however, criticized the district for testing only one

upstairs classroom and the adjacent hallway.

" That's not where the main problems are. The main problems are

downstairs, " said Conley Underwood, whose two daughters attend

Elementary.

Underwood's wife, Regina, said their older daughter, who is in

second grade and attends class downstairs, has had ear infections

and headaches all year. She suspects mold as the culprit.

" I don't have any documentation, " she said, " but being a mother and

knowing your child and knowing the difference between when she's

home for summer and when she's there. "

Oaks said the district tested only Room 206 and a hallway because

that was the area generating complaints from some parents. He said

district officials now are considering testing more parts of the

school.

Although Mactec's tests revealed elevated levels of mold, the

investigator could not see any mold - a good sign, according to

Oaks.

The health problems associated with mold vary from person to person.

" It is not possible to determine 'safer' or 'unsafe' levels of

exposure for people in general, " the report says in part.

Martha Keel, a professor of housing and environmental health with

the University of Tennessee Extension, said mold is everywhere, and

it is not a problem for most people.

" As far as mold being a health risk, it's like an allergen, " Keel

said. " Some people may be affected. Most probably won't.

" As far as serious health effects, " she added, " they're so rare, and

most of the health effects could be runny eyes, upper-respiratory

problems. If you have somebody with pretty severe asthma, it could

trigger asthma attacks. "

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site describes

Aspergillus and Penicillium as " common indoor molds " that thrive

best in " warm, damp and humid conditions. "

Doug Jerger, a senior technical consultant with Shaw Environmental

Inc. in Knoxville, a company that does similar testing to Mactec,

said he agreed that more tests should be done.

" Depending on what species they are, it could be problematic, "

Jerger said after reviewing Mactec's 13-page report. " It's certainly

worthy of additional sampling. "

In February, West Valley Middle School was shut down for cleaning

for a day after Mactec found " small amounts " of Aspergillus in two

classrooms and " higher concentrations " in another.

, the principal of Elementary, said she has

received a handful of complaints from parents concerned about mold.

" Anytime that we have a concern, we report that immediately, " she

said.

ka Mellon may be reached at 865-342-6334.

[Guest guest]

It would be funny if this translation was not so true

On Wed, 5 Apr 2006 snk1955@... wrote:

> Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 22:29:09 EDT

> From: snk1955@...

> Reply-

>

> Subject: Re: [] Mold spores found in school

>

> Hi All,

>

> I am going to attempt to translate this news article KC just posted:

>

> A private engineering and consulting firm has found " slightly "

> elevated levels of mold spores at Elementary School in East

> Knox County, according to a report released Tuesday.

> TRANSLATION: USE THE WORD " SLIGHTLY " SO AS NOT TO ALARM THE PARENTS AND

> TEACHERS

>

>

> The report, prepared by Mactec Engineering and Consulting Inc.,

> recommends further testing to explain the elevated amounts of

> Aspergillus/Penicillium-like mold spores found inside the school.

> TRANSLATION: IT'S PRETTY BAD AND WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE NO ONE ORDERS AND

> PAYS FOR MORE EXTENSIVE TESTING FOR A " SLIGHT " PROBLEM

>

>

> The health risks, according to the report, are difficult to

> determine.

> TRANSLATION: THE REPORT IS WRITTEN AMBIGUOUSLY SO IN CASE SOME TEACHERS OR

> PARENTS GET AHOLD OF IT - THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO PROVE THE MOLD IS CAUSING

> THEIR ILLNESSES.

>

>

>

>

> Russ Oaks, spokesman for the school system, said the district plans

> to have Mactec perform more tests, and he cautioned parents against

> panicking.

> TRANSLATION: IT'S A BAD ONE, IF MORE TESTS ARE NEEDED AND THEY ARE CONCERNED

> PARENTS WILL PANIC.

>

>

>

> " All in all this is a very positive report, " Oaks said.

> TRANSLATION: DOES THAT MEAN THE SPORE COUNT WAS POSITIVELY INDICATIVE OF A

> MAJOR PROBLEM?

>

>

>

> Some parents, however, criticized the district for testing only one

> upstairs classroom and the adjacent hallway.

> TRANSLATION: IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T TEST

>

>

>

> " That's not where the main problems are. The main problems are

> downstairs, " said Conley Underwood, whose two daughters attend

> Elementary.

> TRANSLATION: DO NOT TEST WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED - SERVES TO FURTHER CONFUSE

> THE PARENTS AND TEACHERS, TAKES THE FOCUS OFF OF THE MOLD PROBLEM ITSELF, AND

> ADDS ANOTHER LAYER OF DECEIT TO FIGHT IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REALLY

> GOING ON.

>

>

>

> Underwood's wife, Regina, said their older daughter, who is in

> second grade and attends class downstairs, has had ear infections

> and headaches all year. She suspects mold as the culprit.

> TRANSLATION: THIS IS THE PARENT WHO WILL SOON HAVE A BULLSEYE PUT ON HER

> BACK BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

>

>

>

> " I don't have any documentation, " she said, " but being a mother and

> knowing your child and knowing the difference between when she's

> home for summer and when she's there. "

> TRANSLATION: THE SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEYS ARE CLIPPING THIS STATEMENT FOR

> THEIR FILES AS I TYPE.

>

>

>

> Oaks said the district tested only Room 206 and a hallway because

> that was the area generating complaints from some parents.

> TRANSLATION: I BET HE CAN'T NAME ONE PARENT WHO COMPLAINED OF THAT SPECIFIC

> AREA.

>

> He said

> district officials now are considering testing more parts of the

> school.

> TRANSLATION: " CONSIDERING " = THE ATTORNEYS ARE SAYING DON'T TEST.

>

>

>

> Although Mactec's tests revealed elevated levels of mold, the

> investigator could not see any mold - a good sign, according to

> Oaks.

> TRANSLATION: BECAUSE HE DID NOT TEST WHERE THE MOLD WAS GROWING IN THE

> LOWER CLASSROOMS.

>

>

>

> The health problems associated with mold vary from person to person.

>

> " It is not possible to determine 'safer' or 'unsafe' levels of

> exposure for people in general, " the report says in part.

> TRANSLATION: MAJOR DISCLAIMER OF NO LIABILITY

>

>

>

> Martha Keel, a professor of housing and environmental health with

> the University of Tennessee Extension, said mold is everywhere, and

> it is not a problem for most people.

> TRANSLATION: UBIQUOUS MEANS MOLD IS NOT HARMFUL

>

>

>

> " As far as mold being a health risk, it's like an allergen, " Keel

> said. " Some people may be affected. Most probably won't.

> TRANSLATION: " MOST WON'T BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT EXPOSED TO A WATER

> DAMAGED BUILDING SUCH AS THIS ONE.

>

>

>

> " As far as serious health effects, " she added, " they're so rare, and

> most of the health effects could be runny eyes, upper-respiratory

> problems. If you have somebody with pretty severe asthma, it could

> trigger asthma attacks. "

> TRANSLATION: WHERE IS THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS ONE?

>

>

>

> The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site describes

> Aspergillus and Penicillium as " common indoor molds " that thrive

> best in " warm, damp and humid conditions. "

> TRANSLATION: THIS SCHOOL HAS " WARM, DAMP AND HUMID CONDITIONS " MEANING

> PENN/ASP IS THRIVING AND PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING OF ILLNESS.

>

>

>

> Doug Jerger, a senior technical consultant with Shaw Environmental

> Inc. in Knoxville, a company that does similar testing to Mactec,

> said he agreed that more tests should be done.

> TRANSLATION: MORE TESTS INDICATING MAJOR PROBLEM.

>

>

>

> " Depending on what species they are, it could be problematic, "

> Jerger said after reviewing Mactec's 13-page report. " It's certainly

> worthy of additional sampling. "

> TRANSLATION: THIS GUY HAS SEEN THE REPORT AND KNOWS ITS A PROBLEM.

>

>

>

> In February, West Valley Middle School was shut down for cleaning

> for a day after Mactec found " small amounts " of Aspergillus in two

> classrooms and " higher concentrations " in another.

> TRANSLATION: " HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS " NEED I SAY MORE?

>

>

>

> , the principal of Elementary, said she has

> received a handful of complaints from parents concerned about mold.

> TRANSLATION: IF THERE IS MORE THAN ONE OR TWO PARENTS COMPLAINING, THERE IS

> A VERY SICK TEACHER SOMEWHERE IN THIS SCENARIO.

>

>

>

> " Anytime that we have a concern, we report that immediately, " she

> said.

> TRANLATION: " WE REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY " TO OUR SCHOOL ATTORNEY SO WE CAN

> SHUT THIS DOWN AND THE SICK TEACHER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE WC.

>

>

> FROM THE WAY THEY APPARENTLY ARE HANDLING THIS SCHOOL.....I SMELL A MAJOR

> LAWSUIT IN THEIR FUTURE.

>

>

>

> ka Mellon may be reached at 865-342-6334.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>