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This document is also available as a PDF. Halton public board steps up mould search Halton public board steps up mould search
By Bob Mitchell
Fungus could close half of portables, medical officer says STAFF REPORTER Operation Target Mould is under way in Halton Region. By the end of the year, one out of every two portables in the public
school system could be closed because of the presence of a potentially
harmful mould, health officials say. We don't know what we'll find but I think there is, in all likelihood,
the possibility that over 50 per cent of the portables inspected
will have to be closed and upgraded,'' said Dr. Robert Nosal, Halton'
s medical officer of health. Our past experience is that if there is a little mould, then you
have to start digging further. When you start removing the ceiling
tiles and looking behind the walls, you're likely to find more.'' In an extraordinary move last week, Nosal issued a community health
protection order to the Halton District School Board, demanding that
all 186 portables in the public board be inspected. Nosal wasn't happy with the speed at which the public board had been
examining its portables since excessive mould was discovered in portables
at Brookdale and Pinegrove public schools in Febru- ary. The most recent inspections began on the weekend at Oakville's Montclair
Public School. Today, a team of environmental experts and health officials
will start examining the eight portables at Oakville's Pilgrim Wood
Public School. Later in the week, six portables at Sheridan Public School in Oakville
will be probed. Students will be removed from the portables and classes will be taught
inside the building. If excessive mould is discovered, the classrooms
will be closed and students won't be allowed back until the mould
is removed. Exposure over a prolonged period could cause respiratory problems The fungus, known as stachybotrys atra, has been blamed for sore eyes
and throat, headaches, nosebleeds, rashes, asthma, runny nose and
fatigue. Significant exposure to mould spores over a prolonged period of time,
such as a school year, could affect a student's respiratory system,
causing irritation or allergic reactions. No Halton student has been confirmed ill as a result of the toxic
mould. 1 of 2 7/25/99 3:36 PM Printable Document-Electric Library Personal Edition http://business.elibrary.com/s/elbe/getd...docid=1356022@library_j&dtype=0~0&dinst= The board, which must inspect 157 portables from now until the end
of June, has been authorized to spend up to $3,000 per portable, but
no money has been authorized to repair the portables, which must be
dismantled and rebuilt when mould is discovered. About 200 students from Brookdale and Pinegrove have been taking classes
inside their school buildings since February, when massive quantities
of the fungus were discovered in several portables. Five Pinegrove
portables have been upgraded, but students have yet to be allowed
back into their classroom. Work still needs to completed at many of
the 10 Brookdale portables. Four portables have been closed at Abbey Lane Public School. A preliminary
examination has determined that some mould has also been discovered
in portables at Rolling Meadows, Kilbride, Sheridan, John T. Tuck,
C. H. Horton and River Oaks public schools. Students remain in those classrooms, but will be immediately removed
if the new inspection finds excessive mould. Mould has also been found in 18 of 26 portables suspected of having
the fungus in the Halton District Catholic School Board. Nosal did
not issue a health protection order to the Catholic board because
he was satisfied with the way it has been conducting inspections. Public board officials said the delay in examining their portables
was caused because they tried to do the work on weekends, but weren'
t able to complete the work as quickly as they hoped. Physicians in Halton and those at the Hospital for Sick Children in
Toronto and Chedoke-McMaster Hospital in Hamilton have been told to
contact Nosal if any child is diagnosed with a mould-related illness. CAPTIONS:
DEREK OLIVER FOR THE TORONTO STAR
MOULD SEARCH:
Site supervisor Dan Foley, in full protective clothing, probes
one of several portables behind Montclair Public School in
Oakville Saturday for toxic mould. Copyright (c) 1998 Toronto Star, All Rights Reserved. Bob Mitchell, Halton public board steps up mould search. , The Toronto Star, 04-27-1998. Copyright © 1998 Infonautics Corporation. All rights reserved. - Terms and Conditions 2 of 2 7/25/99 3:36 PM |
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