Even if you are meticulous about keeping your home spotless, you have to remember that the school is your child’s second home. It has to be kept safe at all times and must be a conducive place for children. Testing toxic mold in schools is something that is usually neglected in many schools because it takes a backseat to apparently more pressing needs as the salaries of teachers and sports programs for the students. However, toxic mold has been known to cause many serious health problems and children are especially vulnerable because of their underdeveloped immune systems.
Testing Toxic Mold In Schools: A Serious Issue
One of the most dangerous places for toxic mold to grow is in schools. Many school buildings are old and moldy, and some were built at the time when building regulations were not so strict. We’ve all heard about asbestos in old buildings. Toxic mold poses a terrible health risk to kids that are exposed to it. It is important that there is toxic mold testing in schools.
Mold is a problem in nearly every home, but there is also toxic mold. A very small percentage of household mold is toxic. It is fairly easy to remove mold from the home, and quite rare that a mold infestation would be severe or cause serious health problems. But, buildings are an entirely different matter.
The most common toxic mold is stachybotrys. Most cases of health problems from mold involve this species. Probably the most famous case was of a school in South Carolina where the kids had to be evacuated and parts of the school classified as toxic waste! The entire operation cost $1.9 million and made headlines across the nation.
Since this case, toxic mold in schools has become a hot issue. Testing toxic mold in schools has become a commonplace procedure. However, it is difficult to measure how much mold is in a building. In order to find mold, we must go out looking for it.
Here are some places to look:
-Wet carpets or stained ceilings. Look for any area that has been water damaged. This is the place where mold likes to grow best. Discolored ceiling tiles are a pretty good sign that you have mold. Make sure that areas that become wet are dried quickly and completely.
-Moldy smell. Mold has an earthy, musty smell. If you notice a musty odor in certain parts of the school, especially bathrooms, showers or other humid places, you should look here for mold.
-Humidity. Even in dry parts of the country, you have to keep an eye on the humidity. It should always stay below 60%. Be especially careful about showers, bathrooms and other especially humid areas.
-Under, above and behind things. Think about where mold can easily grow, in warm, humid or dark places. This often means behind blackboards, under carpets, behind tiles and even behind furniture. These are the ideal places for mold, especially in humid climates.
-Around plants. Plants are a breeding ground for molds. They must be watered and kept moist. Check the leaves and also the soil to make sure you do not have a mold contamination problem.
-Painted-over stains. Sometimes ugly, water-damaged walls have been painted over to make them look better. Where tiles have been replaced you also may find mold. In many cases the problem has been “fixed” by repainting or replacing parts.
Small mold problems can be fixed by looking for the mold and washing the area with soap or mold remover. For bigger jobs, you must call a professional. This is expensive, but in the long term it will save money. Replacing roofs costs a lot more!
Once the mold is removed, the building must be kept as mold free as possible. This means routinely checking trouble spots for mold, making sure the humidity is under control, keeping the building dry and well-ventilated, and cleaning up quickly.
Toxic mold in schools is a major health risk as well as a giant financial problem for already cash-strapped school districts. This is why it is a concern for everyone. Testing for toxic mold in schools should not be taken lightly.
