Mountain or a Mold-Hill?

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Mountain or a Mold-Hill?

WTAP News sburg,WV

Todd Baucher

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http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/3924407.html

Wood County School officials tell us that, so far this year, there

have been several calls from schools of what officials say are " air

quality issues " , or issues believed at first to be a problem with

mold. While they say mold has not been found, the school's

maintenence director says the problem has been the result of recent

heavy rains.

" If you have that kind of humidity and if you have failure of the

system, a roof leak, or possibly the shutdown of an air conditioning

unit, " says , Physical Plant Director for Wood County

Schools. " All that would contribute to an indoor air quality issue. "

And a local mold expert agrees.

" When moisture disappears, it doesn't mean the mold is dead, " says

Woodie Moss, President and Inspector for Building Specs

Inspections. " Even some molds, when they do die, actually are giving

off toxic spores, eveen in their dead form. "

The latest situation the maintenence people have been working on is

in a room at Jefferson Elementary School. It's required replacing

some of the ceiling tiles, and ultimately could require replacing

the carpeting.

The inspection and preliminary work came after a parent called

W.T.A.P., and we contacted the Board of Education. The maintenence

department says they can respond as soon as they're called.

" We either get a phone call or work order submitted, "

says. " When we find out it's an air quality issue, we will respond

as quickly as possible, here at the Physical Plant. "

It's a situation that can be serious if left unattended. The parent

who contacted us said one of the youngsters in the classroom was a

special education student with allergies.

Moss says mold isn't always visible, and that homes, businesses and

public buildings should be inspected and cleaned often to prevent it.