Health effects of mold exposure in public schools

Abstract

This paper profiles the impact of mold exposure on the health of students, teachers, and staff in two public elementary schools in Connecticut, and explains how the air quality in each school was tested, and how the health of teachers and students was assessed. It also proposes standards for testing indoor air quality and evaluating the health impact of indoor mold exposure on students, teachers, and staff members.

Indoor air quality in Michigan schools

“…As the measurements included both viable and nonviable particles, viable concentrations (i.e., CFU/m 3 ) would be lower. Unlike (Santilli, 2002) who found Alternaria , Boytrytis , Curvularia , Episoccum , and Stachybotrus exclusively indoors and at high concentrations in three ‘problem schools’, we found no genera that were similarly exclusive and concentrations were low. Indoor bioaerosol concentrations can be highly variable and influenced by many factors, e.g., the life cycle of the organism, season, humidity, window opening, HVAC maintenance, and air filtration.…”

Current Asthma in Schoolchildren Is Related to Fungal Spores in Classrooms

“…In the United States, dampness and visible molds in campuses have become an important public health issue for children. 21 However, fungi-related studies in schools are scarce. Th e Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported a signifi cant association between asthma prevalence and school mold conditions.…”

A Review of the Mechanism of Injury and Treatment Approaches for Illness Resulting from Exposure to Water‐Damaged Buildings, Mold, and Mycotoxins

“…The presence of elevation on spore count testing can have significance, however, both in terms of total spore count and types of mold present. The author of one study of schools concluded that a building must be considered unhealthy at spore counts over 1000 spores/m 3 [114]. A study of a water-damaged hospital highlights limitations of traditional limited testing.…”