Mold tests show OK levels at Huddleston Elementary

Test results from Sept. 21 air samples taken at Huddleston Elementary School in Peachtree City for the presence of mold are in. Industrial hygienist Jeff Giles said the report showed acceptable levels of mold spores.

Additional testing followed one in August that had shown the presence of one spore of black mold, Stachybotrys, in a 75 liter air sample in Room 112. A variety of mold types were found in the school during the weeks before the school year began in early August.

While many varieties of mold are present in the air, including in buildings, it was the presence of black mold that led to health concerns.

Giles after the report findings said, “The (spore) counts were good, and acceptable any way you look at it. There was nothing atypical.”

The spore counts in the test that were the most elevated included a mold category known as basidiospores. While low in most areas of the school, those counts were higher in eight areas and represented the highest spore counts present in the air samples.

Commenting on basidiospores, Giles said that generally speaking they are not considered to be mycotoxins.

“(The count) can go up to the thousands (of spores per cubic meter) when a door or window is opened.”

An example of Giles’ statement could be found in the test results of Room 112. A total of 133 spores per cubic meter was found in the room while the count outside the building was 22,827 spores per cubic meter.

The school hosted a parents information forum on the mold issue on Sept. 21. That meeting was attended by more than 100 parents.

Deputy Superintendent Sam Sweat on Wednesday said EPIC Response will be be at the school on Sept. 26 and 27 to complete the cleaning work on the HVAC system and duct work.Mold tests sh