Illinois School Battles Mold Problems Once Again

Aug. 13, 2012 - PRLog -- St. Charles School District 303 spent millions of dollars fixing a mold problem that came to light over a decade ago.  Recently, mold was discovered once again on the campus.  This time it was found during scheduled maintenance of the Norris Recreation Center which is connected to the St. Charles East High School.

The school district plans to seal off the area around the affected racquetball court while additional tests and a thorough investigation are completed of the area.  According to school officials, results of the mold investigation will be open to the public.

Mold growth in an indoor environment can lead to indoor air quality problems and impact people’s health.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Poor indoor air quality can impact the comfort and health of students and staff, which, in turn, can affect concentration, attendance, and student performance. In addition, if schools fail to respond promptly to poor IAQ, students and staff are at an increased risk of short-term health problems, such as fatigue and nausea, as well as long-term problems like asthma.”  

Ed Chambers, a leading mold expert and President of EC2, Inc., has seen the impact mold contamination can have on indoor air quality for both students and faculty at a number of schools across Illinois and the Midwest.  “Mold won’t grow in an indoor environment unless there is a moisture problem,” he stated.  “These moisture problems can be the result of leaking roofs, broken plumbing, or even just due to elevated humidity levels.   Exposure to elevated levels of mold in our children’s school can lead to a number of health effects.  Mold is a known asthma trigger and can cause a host of allergic reactions.  For students or faculty with immuno-compromised conditions, some types of mold found in indoor environments can also be pathogenic.”

EC2 recently sponsored a public outreach video about IAQ and student performance that can be viewed at:
http://youtu.be/8QxdcORr-1M



To learn more about environmental, indoor air quality and mold issues, 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.