Although mold does not usually present a serious health threat, its presence can exacerbate existing respiratory problems or provoke respiratory symptoms, according to information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency on it's website.
"There are always mold spores in the air. When the conditions are right, they multiply at a more rapid rate," explained Assistant Director of Physical Plant Dan Campbell. The mold grew faster this year because of the particularly damp summer. "Most buildings-as well as the out-of-doors-experienced some increased degree of mold activity during the summer," said Campbell.
Plamen Nenov '07 noticed a mold smell in his three-room triple on the third floor of Pratt was so strong that he began to smell it in his clothes.
Under the guidance of his resident counselor (RC), Allyx Hadley '06, Nenov notified physical plant. "When they came, they peeled off part of the wall-paper, and the wall surface underneath it was all covered in mold," Nenov said. "The same night I was moved to Moore [Dormitory] where I stayed for a couple of nights."
Nenov was not the only student forced to move out of his room. Another first-year student moved out of Pratt and two students moved out of Newport. "I actually had no idea there was mold in my room until the afternoon after I finished unpacking," said Viet Do '06. "That was when my neighbor and I were told to move out within 24 hours."
Physical plant is doing everything it can to help students who have mold problems in their rooms. "Once physical plant is notified of a mold issue, the area is surveyed, and the severity of the problem is assessed. In some cases, a remedial cleaning of the area may be all that is ordered," Campbell said. "In more extensive cases, the specific cause of the moisture infiltration is identified and corrected, followed by the repair/replacement of the interior finishes affected."
Physical plant staff have taken action in both Pratt and Newport to alleviate the problem. "In [Pratt], the cause of the moisture that allowed the mold to grow were leaks in the integral gutter system on the building," said Campbell.
According to Campbell, the gutter leaks have been repaired. "A fairly extensive repair of the interior finishes is needed before the [students] can return," he said. "Because of the dusty nature of the work required and the close proximity of other students in the area, it has been scheduled for the January break."
Portions of the outside of Newport were redone to direct storm water away from the building, according to Campbell. "This will reduce the possibility of moisture entering the building at grade and lower the possibility of future re-growth," he said.
RCs expect students will be able to return to their rooms once the repairs are complete. "They tell us that they expect to have it under control sometime second semester, at which time people will move in again," Hadley said.
RCs have remarked that physical plant and the housing office have been extremely helpful. "Physical plant comes on a daily basis to empty dehumidifiers in the rooms," Hadley said. Phil Maciak '05, the RC on the first floor of Pratt, agreed. "One of the students on my floor had a slight problem, but whatever measures they've taken seem to have been effective against its spread," Maciak said.
Although inconvenienced as a result of the mold growth, Nenov and Do said they were pleased with how the situation was handled. After physical plant confirmed that the mold in Nenov's room was a serious problem, Dean of Residential Life Charri Boykin-East arranged for Nenov to permanently move from the temporary room in Moore into Valentine. "My Valentine [Hall] room is really nice, and I have nothing to complain about now," said Nenov.