Mold, Lead, Asbestos and Allergens may Greet Teachers & Students for the New School Year

The environmental and building consulting experts at EC2 provide indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental assessments for school districts across Chicago and Northern Illinois.

KWQC News reported yesterday that sixteen classrooms in an elementary school in Cambridge, Illinois are contaminated with mold. From now until early September hundreds of thousands of students and faculty will begin the new school year across Illinois. Chicago Public Schools with year round attendance begin as soon as August 9th while schools that follow the traditional schedule head back to class on the 17th of September.

Although many schools were empty of students and teachers during the summer months a number of these schools used the time to conduct repairs, remodeling and demolition work. All the construction is vital for providing the type of learning environment children need, but it may also expose students and teachers to IAQ problems.

Construction work inevitably creates dust and stirs up potential contaminants in the building materials. Many aging schools have problems with mold growth from leaking roofs and windows. Faulty plumbing or backed up sewage pipes can create hazards with both mold and bacteria. Building materials in older schools may also contain lead and asbestos.

“If during the construction the area wasn’t properly sealed off from the rest of the building dangerous contaminants and pathogens can become aerosolized and spread throughout the school building,” reported Ed Chambers, President of EC2 (ec2), a leading provider of IAQ services for schools in the area. “Dust alone can trigger allergic reactions and asthmatic attacks in some people. Contaminated dust with mold spores, bacteria, viruses, lead or asbestos can have devastating effects on health, especially for teachers and students who are in the classrooms for long periods day after day.”

To learn more about preventing or solving IAQ problems follow ec2 on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EnvProfessional. To learn more about how ec2 can help school districts provide healthy IAQ please visit www.4ec2inc.com, email info@4ec2inc.com or call (815) 703-9000.

About EC2, Inc.
EC2 is a leading provider of environmental consulting and inspection services for clients across the United States. Based in the Chicago area, the company provides their services to clients ranging from local companies and institutions to international Fortune 500 corporations.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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