Guest guest Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Industrial hygienist's study finds 'elevated levels' of mold s say, 'shows what we've been saying all along' TownTimesNews.com - Watertown,CT http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm? newsid=18109668 & BRD=1379 & PAG=461 & dept_id=162906 & rfi=6 A study by an industrial hygienist hired by former Town Clerk Ginny and her husband shows significant mold contamination in the Town Hall. The bioaerosol exposure survey was performed on February 5, as the town allowed the engineer into the building to do the tests everywhere but the second floor, which a structural study by ph Calabrese found was incapable of bearing a normal load safely. " The study shows what we've been saying all along, " said Mr. . Mr. stated that the " town is on record saying the building is clean and safe, " but are " showing by their actions they understand the problems, even if they choose not to acknowledge the facts. " The study outlined a number of findings. According to the study, spore levels below 10,000 CFU/g are a " clean building, " while levels over 100,000 " show moderately elevated levels " of mold colonization. Levels over 1 million are indicative of elevated levels of colonization. Of significant note: * A settled dust sample taken from Board of Education files stored in the Clerk's basement vault had " elevated spores at 1.9 million CFU/g dominated by Acremonium and Aspergillus versicolor, " both hazardous molds not normally found indoors. * A sample of rotting wood from the basement wood floors had mold spores of 504,000 CFU/g dominated by Penicillium. * There was " visible mold growth " on the walls and ceilings of a second storage vault shared by the Town Clerk and the Assessor " totaling over 400 square feet. " A moisture reading from the wood wall in this area, which is over the foundation wall, was found to have significant dampness " indicating water intrusion through the basement foundation wall. " * Air conditioning units stored in the basement are in a " damp, dusty environment with visible mold growth on many surfaces. " * Above the drop ceiling in the Assessor's office, " the ceiling tiles glued to the original ceiling had water stains " and a sample of the tile showed " elevated levels of Penicillium at 1.78 CFU/g. " * A settled dust sample was collected from a " non-traffic area of carpet in the Town Clerk's Office, " and was found to have " elevated levels of spores at 1.24 million CFU/g of Penicillium. " * " Penetrations to the second floor were observed " from the first floor, which " provides a pathway for air to move from the second floor to the first floor offices. " The study further stated that " mold abatement cannot be successful until the roof leaks and water intrusion through the foundation have been eliminated. " Town Manager Chuck Frigon declined to comment on the study until he had more time to go over the study to understand " what tests were done and what requirements were used for the testing. " Mr. Frigon was also declining comment due to the fact that the town is currently in litigation with the s. It is believed the town may wish to dispute the findings once they have had time to properly analyze them. Mr. disputed a claim by the town that the water leaks had been stopped due to the expansion and contraction of the roof tarring, claiming that when he was last in the building, 30-gallon drums placed on the second floor to catch water were " overflowing. " " They haven't fixed the water leaks, " Mr. said. " And who is emptying those drums considering the floor of the second floor is unsafe to walk on? " Mrs. claimed that staying in the building is " a health factor for all the occupants, " and the couple further claimed that though none of the employees have openly claimed to be having symptoms relating to mold, that several of them, whom they declined to identify, do have symptoms such as respiratory problems. As the employees in question were not named, there was no way to verify the claim. " These mold levels are not acceptable, not just for those who are susceptible to them but long-term will affect even those who are not susceptible, " said Mrs. . When asked why this test was showing much higher mold levels than an OSHA test done a few months ago, which only cited the town for bird droppings on the second floor and noted mold on the records, Mr. explained that " OSHA does not have the capability to do the testing an industrial hygienist does. " Mr. Frigon reported at the Town Council's Monday, March 19 meeting that wooden support structures have been installed in the Town Hall that will shore up cracked beams, which will reinforce the first and second floors. The records from the basement have been cleaned and will be moved to an outside storage facility " within the next few weeks. " The town has also had a structural study done which showed where the water was penetrating the roof near the east dormer at one of the corroded flashings, and recommended the town spend between $500,000 and $600,000 to replace the slate roof and flashings, " which would make the building watertight. " However, the roof's sheeting and rafters were in " exceptionally good condition, " with " only minor water damage " to a few rafters. The Town Council has also formed a Town Government Center Subcommittee, which started meeting on Tuesday, March 13 and plans to meet every Tuesday until they arrive at a conclusion on what to do, according to Town Council Chairman Joe Pawlak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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