MAR LIN - Administrators at the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Maple Avenue Campus on Thursday moved students out of classrooms after hearing reports of suspected mold in certain parts of the building, according to Al Bobinas, an IU 29 special education teacher.
"One-half of the building was moved today because of the problem. I didn't see it. I was told that was the reason. However, they narrowed it down to mold, that's what they said. Some staff complained of breathing difficulties," Bobinas said Thursday.
It occurred about noon, and students in the classroom building on the west side of the complex were moved over to the classroom building on the east side, according to Bobinas.
"My class wasn't moved. They moved classes into the art room, the library and the music room, whatever rooms were open they utilized to move the students over," Bobinas said.
Diane Niederriter, IU 29 executive director, could not be reached for comment late Thursday afternoon.
Wesley Culp, deputy press secretary for the state Department of Health, Harrisburg, and Leo J. Grace, a supervisor with Norwegian Township, had no information on the matter when contacted Thursday.
Molds are fungi that can be found both indoors and outdoors, according to the website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"No one knows how many species of fungi exist but estimates range from tens of thousands to perhaps three hundred thousand or more. Molds grow best in warm, damp and humid conditions, and spread and reproduce by making spores. Mold spores can survive harsh environmental conditions, such as dry conditions, that do not support normal mold growth," according to www.cdc.gov.
"Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions," according to the website for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov.
"Some people are sensitive to molds. For these people, exposure to molds can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may have more severe reactions. Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath. Some people with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs," according to the CDC's website.