SitNews - Letter: Peddling fear with mold & fugus issue By Glen Thompson

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Peddling fear with mold & fugus issue
By Glen Thompson

October 21, 2005
Friday AM

I really wish the Daily News, the borough staff, and some members of the assembly would cease their ill-conceived focus on a mold problem at Schoenbar. This is paranoia that sells newspapers, creates hyperbole and debate but serves no other useful purpose. While the manager apparently disagrees, even his proposed mold expert has stated that mold has not, repeat not, been established as a causal threat to human health by any competent authority. From the federal government Centers for Disease Control website: "People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections... Standards for judging what is an acceptable, tolerable or normal quantity of mold have not been established molds may cause heath symptoms that are nonspecific. At present there is no test that proves an association between Stachybotrys <mold> and particular health symptomsmolds are found in a building, prudent practice recommends that they be removed." (Emphasis added) So can we please stop peddling fear?

To use the mold and fungus issue as a reason not to occupy the remodeled school is beyond junk science, it is chasing specters. We live in a rainforest where mold and fungus are simply part of the environment. If someone is allergic to them or suspects them as a cause of poor health, they need to move to Arizona. There is nothing anyone can do about it except perhaps hope that global warming will kill the rainforest.

While the mold needs to be removed, it is incidental to the real problem. There is serious water infiltration to the building's roof and cladding. This is a warranty issue and needs to be addressed by the contractor and the borough. However, the water infiltration does not preclude using the facility!

In my opinion, the borough manager should immediately authorize the school board to recommence occupation of the school facility.

The manager has acted prudently to have the building inspected for the water damage.

Now it is time to move in while we deal with the problem.

Glen Thompson
Ketchikan, AK - USA

Note: Glen Thompson is a member of the Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly.