newsCAMPUs CARRIeR PAGe 12 APRIl 26, 2007

The growing

MOLD

Where there’s water conden-sation, there is often mold. On this pipe

(right) near East Mary’s bike rack area, you can see that condensation and water buildup has result-

ed in mold and mildew forming on the pipe.

possibility of

You probably notice the black spots on the bottom of this page. This picture is what’s left of some mold that formed on a New Residence Hall bath-room ceiling. Bleach was sprayed and a suspect leak repaired, but the mold residue remains.

Much like public outcry at the use of asbestos, similar

health concerns are cropping up about what health threat mold and

mildew, like the black discolorations pictured left, can present to respira-

tory and overall health.

Keeping air and heating ven-tilation free and clean can make a differ-

ence in mold growth. High indoor humidity and not keeping things warm and dry can be a recipe for fast

mold growth. This vent (above, left) is found in West Mary. Some replacements will be made to existing Mary

Hall ventilation systems over the summer.

Water-damaged ceiling tiles like this one

(below, right) found in a Mary Hall bathroom often point to a more

important problem—like mold-in-ducing pipe and roof leaks.

Chris EdwardsEditor

sinus infections. semester-long colds and allergies. Bronchitis. Pleurisy.

students have suffered from these things, and some of those same students have had mold problems in their dorms.

“we had a hunch that it might be my liv-ing arrangements (Dana Hall). He [first doc-tor] was pretty convinced that that [the mold] was probably the main factor to the sinus infection that I had for five or six months,” said junior Blake Jackson. “He decided that surgery would be the best route to take.”

Blake said Residence life worked with him to find a living situation free from really bothersome mold—a single room in Dana. Blake has another operation sched-uled for this summer to remove remnants of current sinus infections attributed to mold-related bacteria, according to Blake’s current doctor.

while Blake may have inherited mold

allergies from his mother, junior Brittany nash developed respiratory problems only to later realize some trapped mold near her dorm window might have been to blame.

“when I coughed, it felt like someone was stabbing my side,” said Nash, who was diagnosed with bronchitis and later developed pleurisy. “I felt like I was sick all year long. ever since I’ve been in my new apartment, I haven’t gotten any sinus infec-tions this year—at least, not as bad as they were last year.”

After two or three rounds of antibiot-ics, a work request to physical plant and a lack of a certain link by doctors, nash saw things settle down.

Attributing the cause of cold and allergy-like illnesses to mold is hard, but the consistent illness can be maddening to those more susceptible to mold allergies, according to the environmental Protection Agency’s Henry slack, an indoor air qual-ity specialist.

“Although we may say it’s just a sneeze

and a cough, the people experiencing it (mold-related illness) will tell you it is very irritating…in some cases, it seems that some symptoms can become severe…a cough can become bronchitis,” he said.

Much like in the case of senior and new Residence Hall resident Josh Freeman, mold and its related health effects can esca-late quickly.

After noticing a leak, Freeman submit-ted a work order, but then the mold spread as the water creeped along the ceiling.

“I was willing to clean it myself, but I was going to use bleach or Clorox and water... and I didn’t want to be charged for it,” he said.

He said that they sprayed the mold, but the residue still remains, and another problem with a leak forced physical plant to replace part of the ceiling that had exten-sive mold growth.

As to remaining mold and future mold prevention, Clark said that the treatment of mold should be done with a damp sponge and to the specifications on the container.

Another key element to mold preven-tion is circulation and preventing damp-ness, especially with good circulation—something new Residence Hall bathrooms have little of.

“even though it’s not a big vent, it would be nice if there were a fan there that actually moves air,” Freeman said.

sophomore leigh Jackson had problems with mold at her window in Clara, but like Freeman, the mold was treated with lysol spray and the accompanying odor of the mold dissipated, along with consistent head colds that Jackson and her roommate suffered.

Regardless of the situation, Clark said that there are things that should be done during the cleanup process, including drying bleached areas to prevent pooling water and mold regrowth. HePA vacuum cleaners should also be used. Good ventila-tion and medium humidity also help.

“You keep things clean, and you keep things dry,” he said.

photos by Lauren Wright, graphics editor