Testing for Toxic Mold in Schools It happened again, just as recently as this past October. In Queen Creek, Arizona, it was revealed that dangerous mold appeared in some classrooms at the city's Walker Butte K-8 School. After a meeting on the subject, school officials began an all-out assault on the mold problem.
Unfortunately, the conditions that created the problem at Walker Butte are not unique; they are typical of thousands of buildings across America--many of them schools. In this case, an investigation revealed that an old mopping process was the main culprit that caused a build-up of moisture that in turn helped mold to spread into two of the school's classrooms. This former procedure, not used any more, involved the person mopping doing so in a water-intense way.
Specifically, the old mopping method included a mop bucket full of water, dumping the water, and sloshing it all around. This often led (and leads) to water getting beneath the base-board as well as in the drywall. Subsequently, the baseboard, made of vinyl, prevents the moisture from evaporating.
There's also a second cause of mold in these older schools--plumbing issues. This could include an overflowing toilet, a leak at the sink, etc.
Of course, not all of these molds are toxic. Indeed, there are close to 100,000 types of mold, and only a dozen or fewer are toxic. Still, some are possibly unhealthy and should not be taken lightly--especially in a school setting.
The biggest threat that mold poses is for those who have allergies. And there are an increasing number of kids in schools who fall in that category.
The toxic mold that occurs most often is known as stachybotrys. In fact, this mold is responsible for most instances of mold-related health problems. There was, for instance, the case of the South Carolina school where students were evacuated and portions of the school were declared to be toxic waste. This cost the school nearly $2 million.
Because of infamous cases like this, testing for toxic molds has become commonlace for schools. Still, it's not easy to tell how much mold a building has. One must make a diligent effort to seek it out.
Some mold-detecting tips: Check for tained ceilings and wet carpets. You should see if there are areas that have water damage; mold likes to grow here. If you have ceiling tiles which are discolored, this is an indication of moisture in the ceiling--and therefore of a possible mold problem. Check it out! Pay attention to musty smells. If you detect one in certain areas of the schools, check for mold. The usual suspects are showers, bathrooms and similar humid spots. Keep a constant eye on the humidity in the air. If it exceeds
60%, remember you have the potential for mold growth. Therefore, think about areas where humidity might go above the 60% threshold in the school....and keep an eye there. Check the plant life around the school. These provide fertile mold-breeding grounds. You'll want to examine both the soil and leaves to ensure you don't have a mold problem there. Examine the school for paint-over stains. It's common, for budgetary reasons, for maintenance in the past to have just painted over water-damage spots on walls or ceilings as a cheap, easy way of making them look better. But this obviously didn't correct the mold that might be growing beneath those spots. Remember to use just as much force as necessary. You can handle some minor mold situations with a little water and soap--or possibly mold remover. Bigger jobs, though, will require the work of a professional. It might seem to cost a lot of money, but it's a good investment in the long run. After you're sure all the mold is removed from the school, it's important to keep the building as free and clear of mold as possible. Therefore, be sure you routinely examine the entire campus, inside and out, for mold. Make sure you have a handle on the humidity situation and that the building is kept well-ventilated and dry.
This strategy will help keep the mold problem in your school under control. That's important, not just for the health of the building, but most importantly, for the health of the children. Investing in mold-elimination procedures really is an investment in our future. Don't take it lightly! Mold; Toxic Levels...
What Do They Mean? Toxic levels of mold in your home can indicate a serious health risk for you and your family. Determining the level of mold in your home is done by mold testing, and there are many methods of testing for mold that can be done. If mold testing detects that there are molds growing in your home, and there are high levels in the air, this may mean that you and your family are at a much greater risk than if the air was clear of any mold spores, particles, and mycotoxins. Most of the time common molds may cause some annoying or irritating symptoms, such as allergies and hay fever symptoms, but these molds are rarely very dangerous. Toxic molds, however, can be very dangerous, and high levels of these contaminants in your home can mean toxic levels in the air that you and your loved ones are breathing. What constitutes a toxic level though?
Mold contamination levels can vary from mild to severe, and this is not the only factor that will determine whether your health is affected. Sensitivity to molds is another factor that must be considered. Sensitivity will vary depending on the individual person, and if you are sensitive even low levels will cause problems, while someone with no sensitivity may not be affected even at moderate or high levels of exposure to the same molds and compounds. Mold testing can determine what levels of contamination you have in your home, and what measures should be taken to eliminate the cause and the molds present.
Low testing levels can also be reported as particles not detected. This does not mean that mold is not present, only that mold contamination was not detected in the specific area the test was performed. Sometimes mold testing will show particles present but at a very low level. This result is also good news most of the time. It means that spores and compounds from mold were found occasionally but not consistently. This is also not a guarantee that toxic mold or severe mold contamination is not present, but only that the testing area is not severely contaminated. Mold testing results can sometimes give false positives and negatives both, and this can lead to missed problems with mold and with mold being detected when a problem is not present. This is why it is usually best to have a home mold inspection done as well as mold testing. A home mold inspector is trained to recognize signs of mold contamination that may be missed by some testing molds, especially if the mold present is the toxic Stachybotrys mold, because this type of mold likes to hide in wall cavities and other hidden areas where it is not usually visible and may be hard to detect with some mold testing methods. (continued on right column) |
| (continued from left column) If mold testing shows that the sample has significant particles present in the air in your home, this means that there could be a mold contamination problem. It is important to take samples from the air outside of your home as well as samples of the air in your home. Mold is always present in the air outdoors, and a sample will determine which molds may be entering your home and are not coming from your home. If the mold test in your home shows types which are not present outside your home, this can indicate that there is mold growing in your home. The same is true if the mold test shows results much higher in your home than they are for the outside air. Remember, it is not only the level of contamination in your home but the type of mold contamination, as well as the sensitivity of anyone who lives in the home. Toxic mold can cause problems even at low levels for some individuals and groups of people.
If high levels of mold are found during the testing, this means that you need to take any necessary steps to remove the mold, and eliminate the problem which is allowing the mold to grow in the first place. Toxic mold test levels mean that your home may pose serious health risks for anyone who lives there, and if the molds present include toxic molds, this can be deadly. This test result means that a complete investigation should be done to determine the source of contamination, and any problems which are contributing to the toxic mold contamination, and then professional mold remediation should be done before anyone lives in the house again. Mold Treatment and Fogging Process If you have determined that you have a mold problem in your home or business, you need to take remedial action to remove the mold and repair any damaged areas. Having your property tested should have defined the types of mold present was the first step in determining the extent of mold present and the areas that need to be treated.
The type of mold that has been found in your home determines the extent to which you must go to return your home or business to its original state prior to mold infestation. Some molds are relatively benign while some are much more problematic causing various health problems and some can be so toxic that they can be lethal to those who are exposed to the mold.
Some molds take just a few days to colonize and multiply while others can take a week or longer to grow. Molds thrive on moisture and can dry up but the spores still remain so they are still present even if the moisture has been removed. If they are not treated and cleaned properly they will continue to be a health threat. Using bleach or an aerosol cleaner will not get rid of the mold spores, nor will just painting or wallpapering over tan area get rid of the problem – the mold spores will still be there and can reactivate whenever their favorite moisture reappears.
Once mold has been identified it is imperative that it be properly removed to ensure that all the mold spores are eradicated as well as ensure that the mold does not return. Treatment or mold remediation should be done by a certified professional to ensure that it is properly done, that the mold is contained and eradicated and that the mold does not spread to other areas of the property being treated. Mold remediation and treatment should include: Proper procedures are taken to control the affected area to ensure the safety and health of the workers as well as occupants of the property. This entails the use of protective gear designed to cover the worker’s clothing and respiratory system with goggles, masks, gloves, boots and other gear designed for this type of work. Documentation of the contaminated area’s conditions are recorded to understand the extent of the area to be treated and sampling to ensure that remediation is only performed in those areas. A baseline testing is done and a post mold remediation testing is done to ensure that the contamination has been reduced to a safe level. Vacuums and other demolition tools that are designed to minimize and control the contamination within its source area are used without the use of aerosols which could spread the contamination to other areas. With the contaminated area sealed off from other rooms the mold is then physically removed by the professionals. The professionals then ensure that the source of the moisture has been corrected or controlled and that the area is completely free of contaminates. The wood moisture equivalent for a structure’s framing and sub flooring should reach 8-12% to be considered adequately dry so that repairs can be started on the contaminated area to restore it to its original state.
Fogging is considered environmentally safe for people and pets however they should be away from the premises while the fogging takes place and not return for eight to ten hours. After the fog has dried it will leave a thin film on surfaces that can be removed with a damp mop on all hard surfaces. This can be done after the eight to ten hour time period after the fogging takes place.
Plants and furniture would have been draped while the fogging takes place so there is no damage to them. If you have fish in an aquarium that will also be draped so they can remain during this process unless you prefer to remove them. Painted surfaces should not be affected by the fog at all. Computers and other electronic equipment have not been known to be affected by the fogging process, however all electronic and electrical devices should be unplugged during the fogging.
Fogging can also be used on air conditioning units and heating units to remove bacteria and mold spores and a new filter should be installed after the decontamination is completed. Fogging is also known to be effective on minimizing pet or smoking odors as well.
Fogging is made up of a hydrogen peroxide based chemical formula that has been specifically designed to deactivate and neutralize mold. It is considered non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-toxic and will work effectively on all surfaces and all materials. 
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