Mold in California School Raises Concerns for Teachers, Students & Parents

In February, the Ventura County Star published an article about leaking roofs and health concerns over mold at Fillmore Middle School. The school, which is only a dozen years old, has been plagued with roof problems that have resulted in water damage to the school. 
 
According to the article, the situation has gotten worse and mold has been found in some areas.  The article quotes Earl Davis, interim assistant superintendent for the Fillmore Unified School District, who stated, “There were leaks in the past, but they were not as significant as this year. This year has been the tipping point. This has gone from being a maintenance issue with occasional roof leaks to what could potentially become a health and safety issue.”
 
In addition to visible mold growth, there have been reports of strong musty odors.  Mold growing indoors can often easily become airborne and cause allergies, act as a trigger for asthma and some species of mold can even cause fungal infections in people with weakened immune systems.
 
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause illness requiring absence from school, and can cause acute health symptoms that decrease performance while at school.  In addition, recent data suggest that poor IAQ can reduce a person’s ability to perform specific mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation, or memory.”
 
One of the leading indoor air quality consulting firms in California with extensive experience helping schools with IAQ issues is Clark Seif Clark (CSC).  “If the water leaks continue, the problem with the mold is simply going to get worse,” reported Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark.  “At CSC, our building science experts can identify the root cause of water damage in buildings and determine the extent of any mold and subsequent IAQ issues so that they can be properly addressed.”
 
Clark Seif Clark recently sponsored an online video about the health effects due to mold exposure.  It can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbKoonHwvHM
 
To learn more about how CSC can help with indoor air quality, mold and other environmental issues in schools and other structures, please visit http://www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues.  CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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