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Goddard High School, Roswell, New Mexico w/ photo of confirmed 1.3 million of toxic mold (stachybotrys) on a pipe in the air pathway
in an old, water-damaged school where students and teachers became ill, tested by the Roswell school district, claimed to be safe and healthy
In Roswell, NM, parent Paul Taylor III filed a lawsuit to have the local high school building tested thoroughly, after his daughter and other occupants fell ill while attending school there. The school district would not allow it without a court order, even though Mr. Taylor paid for the expensive tests. The verdict is in:
TAYLOR’S EXPERTS EXPOSE MASSIVE TOXIC CONTAMINATION
IN GODDARD HIGH SCHOOL - see story below!
We congratulate Mr. Taylor on the development of a very generous, excellent plan to get the school tested, the establishment of an outstanding parent website that informs the public about the IAQ problems at Goddard High School and what is being done about them, and the utilization of top experts for medical analysis, building inspection, and testing. Mr. Taylor has told us that The Center for School Mold Help website (that you are now on) has been invaluable to help him address these problems. He is one of our subscribers. We hope that Goddard High School will be closed immediately and the students relocated. This report shows it is a very dangerous building to occupy. (SMH)
UPDATE 9/23/09
TAYLOR'S EXPERTS EXPOSE MASSIVE CONTAMINATION AT GODDARD HIGH SCHOOL!
After two years, Paul Taylor's team of experts have completed their preliminary inspection of Goddard High School. The results are being filed with an additional motion, tomorrow.
Please visit www.ghsair.org/inspection.html to view the expert reports, photos, lab results, and more.
(from www.ghsair.org listserv)
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Paul Taylor, III
Roswell, New Mexico
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TAYLOR’S EXPERTS EXPOSE MASSIVE TOXIC CONTAMINATION IN GODDARD HIGH SCHOOL
ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO – SEPTEMBER 22, 2009 – In accordance with an order issued by Judge
Thomas Rutledge on May 28, 2009, in the cause of Paul Taylor, III, v. Roswell Independent School
District, experts for Taylor conducted a visual inspection and surface sampling of Goddard High School
in June of this year. Recently released data from the inspection and sampling revealed,
“Goddard High School was found to be [a] heavily water damaged and poor
indoor environmental quality indicators associated with sick building syndrome
were identified throughout the school.
Recent work at Goddard High School conducted by Roswell Independent School
District has not and will not solve the problems associated with poor indoor
environmental quality.”
Taylor filed a lawsuit in November of 2008 against Roswell Independent School District, Mike Gottlieb,
Superintendent, and Andy Sweet, GHS Principal, asserting that mold contamination made his daughter,
Paige, critically ill. He is not suing for money, but for the right to have GHS tested properly. Taylor was
willing to pay for the testing himself. The RISD repeatedly denied Taylor’s request for proper testing
and rebutted by saying their previous tests were adequate and asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
Judge Rutledge denied the RISD”s Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit and allowed Taylor the right to
properly inspect the facility. The initial stage of the testing was recently completed, with the expert
reports being filed in court, along with a motion to conduct further invasive testing, in accordance with
the Judge’s order.
Laboratory results and photos show Goddard High School to be a heavily water damaged building or
“sick building” as the terms are sometimes interchangeable. Taylor’s experts report that some of these
indicators include mold growth in the air conditioning system and within the breathable airways,
inadequate maintenance of the exterior building envelope over a period of many years, multiple
avenues of water intrusion in the exterior building, evidence of prolonged and continued water exposure
throughout the school interior, evidence of microbial growth on interior surfaces and within the air
conditioning system, evidence of respiratory irritants and cancer-causing material (asbestos fibers) in
the airstream pathways, and evidence of ineffective attempts to repair and or mitigate moisture and
water intrusion problems within the school.
According to Paige Taylor’s treating physician, Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, who specializes in biotoxin
related illnesses, 24% of the population is genetically susceptible to mold illness and will not self-heal.
More simply stated, almost a quarter of the normal population is genetically susceptible to chronic mold
illness. Three quarters isn’t. This is not an allergenic or asthma based disease, but one that is
genetically based, therefore, it is statistically a public health concern.
Dr. Shoemaker, a graduate of Duke University Medical School, who has over thirty years of experience
as a treating physician, and has treated over 5,400 patients with chronic illness acquired following
exposure to water-damaged buildings; and more than 7,700 patients with chronic illness acquired
following exposure to biologically produced toxins, including those from water-damaged buildings.
Shoemaker stated “[my] review of the sampling of Goddard High School performed by Plaintiff’s experts
on June 16th and 17th showed a “massive fungal presence as shown by fungal DNA testing.” DNA
evidence of amplified growth Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus penicilloides,
Stachybotrys chartarum and Trichoderma viride. Any one of these organisms will make biologically
active compounds, including mycotoxins, toxins and inflammagens, and each could be responsible for
one or all of the physiologic and neurologic abnormalities seen in Ms. Taylor. Furthermore, temporal
association of the rapid changes in biomarkers seen in Ms. Taylor provides the necessary factors to
determine that the cause of her illness is due to exposure to indoor air contaminants.”
Dr. Michael Larranaga, Ph.D of Oklahoma State University and consultant for Taylor’s inspection team
states, “…the findings and observations described herein have resulted in an indoor environment in
which building occupants are exposed to fungi, fungal metabolites, dust, fire safety hazards, and
asbestos fibers that present a risk to public safety and health. Based on my education, training, and
experience, I would never consider allowing my child to attend this school.”
Dr. Larranaga, a licensed mold assessment consultant, has conducted hundreds of indoor
environmental quality and building dynamics assessments and published and lectured on building
dynamics, respiratory safety and health related indoor exposure, moisture control, and mold
assessment and remediation.
Further supporting the fact that Goddard High School’s is a “water damaged building” or “sick building,”
a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) lists the 11 most common moisture-related problems
in buildings of which, 8 were observed within Goddard High School. “Surface contamination testing
found that of the 22 mold species found in GHS in concentrations indicating a mold growth site…20
(91%) were found to be indicators of a water damaged building.”
Additional sampling methods developed by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, specifically the Environmental Relative Moldiness
Index “ERMI” testing methods, were utilized to measure indications of mold species associated with
water damage by DNA marking of the existing dust present throughout the building. The analysis
indicates a heavy mold burden throughout the building.
“In GHS, an average of 20.4 mold species associated with water damage out of a possible 26 species
total, was found. According to the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index values established by the
EPA, samples taken from GHS revealed High Moldiness Risk in 92% of all of the samples, with the
remaining 8% falling in the Medium Moldiness Risk category.”
It was noted by William Holder, consultant for Taylor’s inspection team, “…molds were confirmed by
qualifying laboratory analysis to be present. Organisms of concern were found in low to high
concentrations. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists and the American
Industrial Hygenists Association recommend that ‘urgent risk management decisions be made’ when
organisms of concern are found indoors.” According to test results, Stachybotrys, or toxic black mold,
as well as Aspergillus and Penicillium, were some of the organisms of concern identified in high
concentrations.
Dr. Larranaga’s report also notes that RISD has attempted to make improvements to the conditions
within the school. He states, “the work being conducted by the school [district] has not and will not
solve the problems associated with mold burden, dust level, asbestos fiber contamination, building
HVAC system performance and degraded condition, and will have a minimal preventative effect on
future mold growth inside the school.
“RISD has spent considerable time and monies cleaning, painting, replacing ceiling tiles, and
attempting to repair chilled water pipe insulation, galvanized piping, sewers, asbestos containing
material, the roof, etc…The HVAC systems, sewer piping, and potable water piping are beyond their
useful life and are in need of replacement.”
Taylor’s team of experts also noted “the dust accumulation observed was the worst seen in thousands
of school investigations.”
“The dust analysis found chrysotile and amphibole asbestos fibers in the surface dust. Asbestos fibers
are confirmed carcinogens, or have the ability to cause cancer…there is no safe level of asbestos
exposure…”
The EPA Benchmark for asbestos dust is 50,000 structures per square centimeter for infrequently
accessed and unoccupied areas of residences (e. g., attics). This Benchmark was set for the clean-up
work in New York City following the collapse of the World Trade Towers in 2001.
“The dust in the return air pathway for the air-conditioning system [at GHS] contained 101,000 asbestos
structures per square centimeter…levels above 100,000 square centimeters are considered high and in
the range of a significant accidental release,” according to the expert report.
The school district continues to publically state the GHS air quality is of no concern as their testing has
revealed only allowable amounts of contamination. Taylor’s report flies squarely in the face of that
claim.
“After two years, we finally have a true picture of what is going on at Goddard High School,” said Paul
Taylor, III. “All we ever wanted was to determine the facts and to use those facts to assist in the
diagnosis and treatment of my daughter. Leading experts and scientists from across the nation have
identified major causes of urgent concern with indisputable lab results and photos that indicate GHS is
not a healthy place for kids.”
“The facts speak for themselves,” added Taylor.
****
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, M. D., has developed a specialty of practice in biotoxin associated illnesses.
He has published multiple academic papers and articles based on his direct patient care and research,
as well as authored original research based on patient care, including five papers on diagnosis,
treatment, mechanisms, clinical trials and pathophysiology of the illness acquired following exposure to
water damaged buildings. He has presented papers at the request of multiple national and
international organizations, as well as the U. S. House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate on
illness acquired following exposure to water damaged buildings, in addition to being routinely invited to
lecture at academic conferences, medical schools, and governmental agencies.
Dr. Larranaga’s qualifications include a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Industrial Engineering, a Master
of Science degree in Environmental Science (industrial hygiene and safety option), and a Bachelor of
Science in Engineering Technology (Fire Protection Safety). He is board certified in the comprehensive
practice of industrial hygiene (American Board of Industrial Hygiene), safety (Board of Certified Safety
Professionals), and Fire and Explosion Investigation (National Association of Fire Investigators). Dr.
Larranaga is a registered professional engineer (Texas) and a licensed mold assessment consultant
(Texas Department of State Health Services). He is Associate Professor and Department Head of the
School of Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology and Associate Professor of General
Engineering within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology at Oklahoma State
University. Prior to moving into academics as a profession, Dr. Larranaga worked as an industrial
hygienist and safety engineer in consulting, at Texas Tech University, Los Alamos National Laboratory,
Akzo Nobel Chemicals, and Marathon Oil Company.
H. William Holder currently holds licenses in the state of Texas and practices as a Mold Assessment
Consultant, Master Plumber, and HVAC contractor.
For additional information and photos please visit www.ghsair.org.
Paul Taylor, III Roswell, New Mexico
P.O. Box 344 Roswell, NM 88202-0344 Email:
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