Mold attacks Student Center
Susan Didier
Issue date: 5/29/08 Section: Features
The silent, invasive attacker continued to grow and multiply but Heidi Pries doubted it was causing her health problems. Pries was suffering from sinus infections and numerous headaches.
"For me it was affecting my health," Pries said. "I thought something major was wrong with me."
Pries said a co-worker, Ken Schornack, was also experiencing some health problems. After purchasing an in-home mold detector, Schornack tested the air quality in his office in the Student Center at Grand View. The results showed mold spores. Grand View offered to follow up with more testing and found the culprit to be mold in the offices.
"I was pretty skeptical it was the mold," Pries said.
The college hired a mold specialist to evaluate the mold problem and health issues. Pries moved out of the building and after being out of the building for over a month, there is a difference. Pries said she is feeling better.
Mold can cause adverse health problems but it can also be fatal to babies and individuals with weak immune systems.
Mold is an organism found indoors and outdoors and cannot be eliminated. Instead, mold plays an important part in the environment breaking down organic materials said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mold will grow if there is moisture and a food source.
When mold is inhaled indoors, health issues become a concern. The Environmental Protection Agency states molds produce allergens, irritants and sometimes, potentially toxic substances or chemicals. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "Allergic responses include hay fever-like symptoms such as headache, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, difficulty breathing and skin rash (dermatitis). Molds can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, molds can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of individuals whether or not they are allergic to mold."
"For me it was affecting my health," Pries said. "I thought something major was wrong with me."
Pries said a co-worker, Ken Schornack, was also experiencing some health problems. After purchasing an in-home mold detector, Schornack tested the air quality in his office in the Student Center at Grand View. The results showed mold spores. Grand View offered to follow up with more testing and found the culprit to be mold in the offices.
"I was pretty skeptical it was the mold," Pries said.
The college hired a mold specialist to evaluate the mold problem and health issues. Pries moved out of the building and after being out of the building for over a month, there is a difference. Pries said she is feeling better.
Mold can cause adverse health problems but it can also be fatal to babies and individuals with weak immune systems.
Mold is an organism found indoors and outdoors and cannot be eliminated. Instead, mold plays an important part in the environment breaking down organic materials said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mold will grow if there is moisture and a food source.
When mold is inhaled indoors, health issues become a concern. The Environmental Protection Agency states molds produce allergens, irritants and sometimes, potentially toxic substances or chemicals. Dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, "Allergic responses include hay fever-like symptoms such as headache, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, difficulty breathing and skin rash (dermatitis). Molds can cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, molds can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of individuals whether or not they are allergic to mold."
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