An approach to management of critical indoor air problems in school buildings

This study was conducted in a school center that had been the focus of inte nse public concern over 2 years because of suspected mold and health proble ms. Because several attempts to find solutions to the problem within the co mmunity were not satisfactory, outside specialists were needed for support in solving the problem. The study group consisted of experts in civil engin eering, indoor mycology, and epidemiology. The studies were conducted in cl ose cooperation with the city administration. Structures at risk were opene d, moisture and temperature were measured, and the causes of damage were an alyzed. Microbial samples were taken from the air, surfaces, and materials. Health questionnaires were sent to the schoolchildren and personnel. Infor mation on the measurements and their results was released regularly to scho ol employees, students and their parents, and to the media. Repairs were de signed on the basis of this information. Moisture damage was caused mainly by difficult moisture conditions at the building site, poor ventilation, an d water leaks. Fungal genera (concentrations <200 colony-forming units (cfu )/m(3), <3000 cfu/cm(2)) typical to buildings with mold problems (e.g., Asp ergillus versicolor, Eurotium) were collected from the indoor air and surfa ces of the school buildings. Where moisture-prone structures were identifie d and visible signs of damage or elevated moisture content were recorded, t he numbers of microbes also were high; thus microbial results from material samples supported the conclusions made in the structural studies. Several irritative and recurrent symptoms were common among the upper secondary and high school students. The prevalence of asthma was high (13%) among the up per secondary school students. During the last 4 years, the incidence of as thma was 3-fold that of the previous 4-year period.