The Center for School Mold Help

Visit this extensive section, with scores of compelling articles, to learn what authorities and research state about the symptoms reported by people occupying moldy or damp (ie."sick") buildings. Those you see below are but a small, representative number...

Most of this information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 

This section offers extensive school mold-related facts and stats.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

View scores of Frequently Asked Questions regarding mold in schools.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

This section offers mold education multimedia resources, available online.

Most of this information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

This section is for school administrators and school board members, who are key people who can be instrumental in helping solve school mold problems in a manner that truly protects the occupants. Parents and teachers may be interested in the tools available within this section, also.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please click here.

Admin FAQ's limited to subscribers include:

Item #     FAQ 

10         How dangerous are the mycotoxins molds emit?           

11         Does school mold really present a threat to health?    

12         CHEJ: School Siting Resources   
13         What can I do to address the situation when someone suspects mold may be a problem at the school?       
14         Microbial Resistant Products   
15         Where is a helpful guidebook for school inspections?       
16         How can HVAC (Heating and AC) systems harm students?   
17         Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws   
18         Free EPA Software Tool Will Help Schools Protect Kids' Learning Environment   
19         Where can I find mold resistent products and materials?   
20         Where are the best resources found to help us to: find out if we have mold and eliminate it, if so?   
21         What resources does the EPA have for schools?   
22         Where is an extensive resource list for school facilities?   
23         What if it costs a lot of money that we just don't have?   
24         Can fiberglass insulation harbor mold in a HVAC system?   
25         Do districts successfully get refunds from contractors for mold remediation?   26         Resources List from MCPS
29         What will happen if the parents "find out" that mold is in our school?         30         How can I prevent school mold from becoming a problem at my school?       31          What are good resources for planning or designing a healthy school?         
32         What is known about portable classrooms and mold?    
33         What is a High Performance School Design?    
34         How can portable classroom problems be solved?            
35         How to monitor construction: an example    
36         Do any districts close down moldy areas immediately?    

This section contains the TX Tech Glossary of Fungi related to IAQ investigations, with citations, provided by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Department of Microbiology and Immunology.

"In this reference guide for fungi we have listed all the fungal species we are aware of that are associated with indoor air quality investigations and more. Please note however, that this reference guide does not cover every known fungal species.

This reference guide for fungi is slightly different than some of the other very good fungal glossaries on the web. We have included detailed references and corresponding abstracts that relate to allergenicity, toxicity and fungal infection for all fungi listed." Dr. David C. Straus

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

View over 100 compelling scientific studies, abstracts, and articles related to mold and health and school mold.

The following research provides readers with key findings that are highly relevant to understanding the potential impact of mold on human health. Victims of mold exposures will recognize the symptoms that can be so debilitating.

Some of the most compelling, recent studies on mold are featured here - revealing these biotoxins to be far more harmful than the minor allergen doctors previously understood them to be.  Please see our Internet Links page on this site for more studies like these. We are honored to have the support of a number of these researchers, who truly care about school children and the staff who suffer in mold-ridden schools.

There are literally millions of teachers and other school employees and students ill from their school environment - very often, from mold and other agents in damp buildings. 20% of the American population is in schools, during any given week. Half of the American schools have poor indoor air quality, often from dampness and related problems. That's 10% of 300 million = 30 million, and 24% of them can't detox from mycotoxins (Shoemaker, 2004) = 7.2 million (estimated), at any given time (since the population cycles through, it is more, cumulatively - in fact, it is 24% of all people cycling through half of our schools - and most of our American population cycles through schools). During their schooling or work in schools, it is more likely than not that they will encounter an environmentally sick building. These illnesses can be chronic and last a lifetime, or cause death. So you see, environmentally sick employees and students are impacting the nation in a major way. The bottom line is that our nation's citizens are being made ill in our schools. This is a silent epidemic that is not being addressed by the CDC. This must stop! We ask that you help us educate the public about this very serious problem. (Susan Brinchman, Director, Center for School Mold Help)

These articles available to subscribers only (please click icon below, to learn more): 

Item Title                                                                                  Hits 
Scientific Consensus Statement on Environmental Agents Associated with Neurodevelopmental Disorders  361 
Tremorgenic mycotoxin's role in invasive aspergillosis  359 
Improving indoor environmental quality for public health: impediments and policy recommendations  364 
Public health and economic impact of dampness and mold  64 
...Pathophysiology of Illness Caused by Exposure to Water-Damaged Buildings (Shoemaker & Lin, 2008)  237 
Adverse Health Effects of Indoor Molds  175 
Inhalational Health Effects of Mold (2007)  611 
A cluster of inflammatory rheumatic diseases in a moisture-damaged office (2002)  330 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences  353 
Stachy: Olfactory Sensory Neuron Loss and Inflammation in the Murine Nose and Brain  355 
Mycotoxins: of Molds and Maladies (Barrett, 2000)  339 
Production of proinflammatory mediators by indoor air bacteria and fungal spores...(2003)  550 
Neurophysiological effects of chronic indoor environmental toxic mold exposure on children  169 
IOM: Clearing the Air: Asthma and Indoor Air Exposures (2000)  782 
Advancing a mold theory on depression  758 
Carpeting, Mold & Asthma: A 2006 Finnish Study  653 
Intranasal exposure to a damp building mould, Stachybotrys chartarum, induces lung inflammation  839 
Pulmonary cytotoxicity of secondary metabolites of Stachybotrys chartarum  756 
An In Vitro Study of the Toxic Effects of Stachybotrys  689 
Teachers at risk of dying of autoimmune disease...  789 
Shoemaker Pfiesteria Research Story  851 
CA Research Bureau: Indoor Mold, 2006  885 
CA Research Bureau: Sick Building Syndrome  895 
Meta-analysis of IAQ and health symptoms in schools, 2003  1006 
State of Lung Disease in Diverse Communities: 2007  921 
Breathing in Comfort: Summary of studies  901 
Aspergillus - Slide Presentations  791 
The Aspergillus Site  938 
Study: Mold linked to asthma  862 
Study: Black Toxic Mold Deadly to Animals  999 
Vocal Chord Dysfunction Linked to Workplace  906 
Microbiology: Wikipedia Information  873 
Environmental Health Research Link  876 
Advanced COPD a major disease worldwide  807 
Burden of COPD is higher than thought  831 
Teachers' Health in Moisture-Damaged Schools  735 
Depression and Mold Linked  828 
Lessons Learned: A report, 2006  854 
Symptoms of mold-illness  838 
Dr. Shoemaker's New Orleans Clinic Findings  885 
Bioaerosols, Fungi, Bacteria, Mycotoxins, and Human Health  756 
Madison, WI: New Mold Research Lab Funded  863 
Aspergillus/Aspergillosis Research  911 
MVOC's and plasticizers risks for asthma symptoms  826 
Evaluation of VOCs in sick buildings  860 
What is IAQ?  842 
On the history of indoor air quality and health  854 
Health symptoms caused by molds in a courthouse.  902 
Effects of toxic exposure to molds and mycotoxins in building-related illnesses.  866 
Saliva secretory IgA antibodies against molds and mycotoxins in patients exposed to toxigenic fungi.  824 
Neurophysiological effects of chronic indoor environmental toxic mold exposure  831 
The neurological significance of abnormal natural killer cellactivity in chronic toxigenic mold expo  836 
Fungal contamination of elementary schools: a new environmental hazard. (Santilli)  801 
The remediation of mold damaged school--a three-year follow-up study on teachers' health.  889 
Common Airborne Fungi Cause Chronic Stuffy Nose, Mayo Clinic (2004)  856 
The Healthy and High Performing School  795 
IOM: Damp Indoor Spaces and Health (2004)  857 
EPA: How Does Indoor Air Quality Affect a Child's Ability to Learn?  724 
EPA: Guidance for Clinicians on the Recognition and Management of Health Effects Related to Mold Exp  778 
Mold Research (2003-2005)  652 
Isolation of Stachybotrys From the Lung of a Child With Pulmonary Hemosiderosis  630 
Isolation and Identification of Aspergillus fumigatus Mycotoxins on ...Some Building Materials  587 
NIH: Respiratory morbidity in office workers in a water damaged building  526 
CA Portables Studies  646 
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity - The End of Controversy  552 
Symptoms associated to work in a water damaged school building  529 
Mold Education: Detection of Mold and Mycotoxin Antibodies in DNA in Blood, Saliva and Lung Secretio  521 
Identifying markers for chronic illness in pediatric patients exposed to WDB (Shoemaker)  476 
Indicators of complex physiologic disturbances in Sick Building Syndrome (Shoemaker)  580 
A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to  534 
Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings (Shoemaker)  440 
Dr. Shoemaker, Center for Research on Biotoxin-Associated Illness  443 
Pathology of Trichothecene Mycotoxins in Man (Croft)  424 
IOM Damp Indoor Spaces and Health Summary by SMH  608 
Chemical-related sensitivity is associated with gene variants...  551 
Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI)  621 
CDC Case Definition: Trichothecene Mycotoxin (poisoning)  521 
Mold, toxic exposure and autism linked?  509 
An investigation into techniques for cleaning mold-contaminated home contents (Straus et al)  408 
Fungal colonization of air filters from hospitals  479 
Investigation of the potential antimicrobial efficacy of sealants used in HVAC systems  495 
Extent of fungal growth on fiberglass duct liners with and without biocides under challenging enviro  393 
Growth of mold on fiberglass insulation building materials--a review of the literature  458 
Effect of relative humidity on fungal colonization of fiberglass insulation  398 
Fungal production of volatiles during growth on fiberglass  392 
Colonized fiberglass insulation in ductwork and AHU & Sick Building Syndrome  434 
Continually measured fungal profiles in sick building syndrome (Straus et al)  401 
Correlation between the prevalence of certain fungi and sick building syndrome (Straus et al)  380 
EPA Tools for Schools Study in TX  445 
Identification, remediation, and monitoring processes used in a mold-contaminated high school.  506 
Efficacy of chlorine dioxide as a gas and in solution in the inactivation of two trichothecene mycot  413 
Effect of chlorine dioxide gas on fungi and mycotoxins associated with sick building syndrome  369 
Mycotoxin identification in moldy dwellings (French study)  443 
Culturability and toxicity of sick building syndrome-related fungi over time (Straus et al)  407 
Mold contamination and air handling units (Straus et al)  388 
Trichothecene mycotoxins in (blood) sera from individuals (Straus et al)  415 
S. chartarum trichothecene mycotoxins can become airborne (Straus et al)  367 
Mold Toxins Kill Nerves / Sense of Smell (MSU Study)  413 
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Molds  446 
Mixed mold mycotoxicosis: immunological changes in humans following exposure in WDB (Gray et al)  878 
Mold Doubles Kids' Asthma Risk  498 
Indoor Environment Resulting From Water Intrusion, Part I (Thrasher et al)  574 
Clinical confirmation of trichothecene mycotoxicosis in patient urine. (Croft et al)  478

If hidden or visible mold has colonized any part of the school building, established through visual inspection and/or mold testing, The Center for School Mold Help offers these links to assist in your remediation planning. Experts strongly encourage schools to utilize highly trained, experienced mold remediation professionals and to have consultation and testing with non-related firms that have an excellent set of credentials, references and experience. Experts further recommend that these be separate from the mold remediators to be used. Reminder: Agreement with our Disclaimer is required to view this section, as with the entire SMH website.

Most of this information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

This section contains environmental law information related to damp buildings, mold, and school mold.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

These are the titles of our Mold Law section that you may access with your subscription: 

Item Title  Hits 
New Jersey State Law Signed to Protect Child School Environments  - 
MA IAQ Laws & Overview of Air Quality in Buildings  284 
HIGH PERFORMANCE-GREEN BUILDINGS PROVISIONS SIGNED INTO LAW: EPA TO IMPROVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS  361 
Database of State Indoor Air Quality Laws  716 
WI: History of Senate Bill 325  866 
WI: Senate Bill 325: WI Indoor Environmental Quality in Schools Act  787 
WHO: The Right to Healthy Indoor Air  808 
S. 912 The America’s Better Classroom Act of 2007  858 
Mold Legislation Article: Harris Martin Publishing  874 
Database of State IAQ Laws through 2004  886 
Findlaw Site  801 
Model Legislation for Indoor Air Quality in Schools  849 
CT legislation regarding school mold  806 
CA California legislation on indoor mold  865 
CA Williams Settlement: Decent Schools for CA  807 
AR Legislature Assesses School Conditions  837 
Report: School District Liability for Indoor Air Quality Conditions: A Review of Selected Legal Issu  851 
MA Bill to Support Healthy Schools and Public Buildings, 4/06  931 
S. Bill 506 Passes Senate June 21, 2007  857 
S. 506: High-Performance Green Buildings Act of 2007  789
 

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

 For solutions to school mold:

1. Understand the problem of school mold is the first step. Visit our School Mold FAQ and Admin FAQ pages. Learn all you can from the Research and Internet Links pages, so you have a background of information upon which to understand the problem.

2. Visit our Getting Help page.

3. Visit our Remediation page.

4. Use of this site requires agreement with our Disclaimer, as the information on this site and any links is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for receiving medical, legal, or professional advice.
 

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

Obtain information about chemical sensitivities (also called MCS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, CS), connect with doctors, support groups and more.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

The following links have been selected to assist you in locating information related to definitions, prevention, identification, and remediation of school mold, as well as health issues related to mold that may impact children and adults.

The external links are intended to provide a range of opinions in order to further educate the reader. These external links provided do not necessarily represent the position of The Center for School Mold Help nor should their presence be considered an endorsement of any product or point of view. Ozone generating equipment has been linked with potential lung damage by the US EPA and is particularly not endorsed and the public is to be strongly cautioned. The Center for School Mold Help is not responsible for the content of external pages, however the work that has gone into the construction of these external pages is greatly appreciated, as they extend the content provided on this site.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

The following are resources for teachers to develop lessons for their students about mold prevention and mold and human health. Please note that it is not safe for students to come into close physical or respiratory contact with molds. We believe that education is the key to providing healthy schools! If you have a favorite resource or lesson and would like to contribute it, or a comment about these resources, email us at info@schoolmoldhelp.org with your full contact information and permission to use, if applicable.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >> 
 

This is a section where you may view the CV's of some of the experts whose research or comments are cited on this website.

This information is provided to The Center for School Mold Help Registered Subscribers only. To view ALL the information available within this category, please use the SMH Supporter/Subscriber Login at the bottom left of this page.

If you do not have an active registration, please register and make a small donation now to gain full access to this information, along with thousands of other articles, videos, and other helpful mold-related information compiled from various sources by The Center for School Mold Help.

For additional information on how to become a SHM Subscriber, please read this article >>