An appropriate public health goal should be to prevent or reduce the incidence of potentially problematic damp indoor environments, that is, environments that may be associated with undesirable health effects, particularly in vulnerable populations... (IOM, Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, 2004)
"U.S. Government Accountability Office studies show that some 15,000 schools in the United States suffer from indoor air that is unfit to breathe. In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, conventional building materials and furnishings release toxic chemicals, volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, and other substances to the air inside the school.
Mold spores, common in deteriorating schools with leaky roofs, along with other biological organismsadd to this polluted mix, triggering allergies, and are suspected of increasing new cases of respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, which is the most common chronic illness among children under age 15. Asthma also is the leading cause of student absenteeism in schools, accounting for more than 14 million missed school days each year, according to the AFT."
"WASHINGTON (AP) — Barack Obama probably cannot fix every leaky roof and busted boiler in the nation's schools. But educators say his sweeping school modernization program — if he spends enough — could jump-start student achievement." (Associated Press)
Leak across light fixture, in a Liberty, NY school library that sickened librarian Angela Page, destroying her health. This school still is in use and occupied by students and staff, despite a scathing report by the CDC on the three leaky Liberty schools. (photo by Angela Page)
--------------------------
This is a powerful way to start the New Year. Read the full article, and more, below. You will note the number of times mold and health problems are linked. The Center for School Mold Help Director and many of our site visitors have been writing the Obama team about our school mold and health problems. This is our answer, and a very desirable one, surely. We are being heard. Our supporters and parent/teacher/school staff/community activists are being heard.
The Center for School Mold Help calls for:
the highest priority to be placed on mold prevention, use of safe, science-based remediation, with urgent avoidance of moldy buildings and those with poor indoor air quality (IAQ)
recognition by and help from our pediatricians and physicians, for the devastating impact that damp, moldy (school & other) buildings have on health.
an immediate retraction and correction of all past, incorrect position papers on environmental illness caused by mold, by medical associations such as ACOEM and AAAAI that now mislead these physicians
immediate respite for those suffering in moldy buildings - they need places to go, while they wait for reconstruction
urgent, federal mandates for all gov't agencies such as the CDC, OSHA, EPA, & health departments (state, county, and local) to provide meaningful, swift action and assistance to detect mold and protect building occupants, incorporating and expanding the recommendations of the US GAO Audit on Mold
There is much more to be done, more education to undertake, but WE ARE GETTING THERE, TOGETHER.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), second-largest teacher union in the nation, is to be highly commended for its work in assessing the extent of America's school building problems and the solutions it has proposed, in its report Building Minds, Minding Buildings and two new guides: Our Union's Road Map to Green and Sustainable Schools and School Construction Funding Need: A State-by-State Assessment and Analysis of Court Cases. In addition, AFT has provided industrial hygienists for inspection of damp, moldy schools, to document environmental problems that can sicken its school staff members. Well done, AFT! (SMH)
This feature story, found in the December 8th USA Today, outlines the (external) toxic exposures many children receive from local industries in their neighborhood schools. Check out your child's school, with an environmental rating, accessed by state, in the USA Today database. Adding this to the extensive internal IAQ problems in American schools, caused by mold and damp buildings, one can see some compelling reasons why 1/3 of Americans are described by government sources as chronically ill. We know of schools built, deliberately, ontop of toxic sites. Like those in this story, the occupants of thousands of schools suffer from dangerous indoor air quality due to dampness and mold - with no governmental help or legal respite. We ask our readers to contact the writers of this article, to ask for a story on school mold to be added to this series (SMH).
"Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., Named New Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Dr. Raynard S. Kington, acting director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), today announced the appointment of Linda S. Birnbaum, Ph.D., D.A.B.T., A.T.S., as director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Dr. Birnbaum, who is currently a senior advisor at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), where she served for 16 years as director of the Experimental Toxicology Division, will begin her appointment in January 2009." (NIH Press Release)
This Washington Post article explains how the transition team is working to reverse some of Bush's policies quickly, including those that pertain to Environmental Protection Agency recommendations that have been ignored. We encourage our site visitors to visit President-elect Obama's website, www.change.gov, to learn more. Contact him with your story and concerns regarding our deteriorated, environmentally sick schools that are causing hidden epidemics of environmental diseases in school children / staff, at http://change.gov/page/content/americanmoment. As the only nonprofit with extensive information on the school mold issue, rest assured, we will add to your voice, as well (SMH).
