Mold Concerns

Broader context is important: It is not unusual to find mold or mold spores in the air or on surfaces, both inside buildings and outside.

The two most prevalent types of mold cited in the two reports were Cladosporium and Aspergillus/Penicillium, with Acremonium also cited in the March report as found on surface samples from insulation within three air units. While these are generally considered to be common types of allergen molds, the presence of Aspergillus/Penicillium was noted as “of concern for some of their species’ ability to produce mycotoxins and their ability to cause allergic responses in some people” and the presence of Acremonium was noted as “of concern as an allergen and other possible health conditions”.

Sensitivity to mold differs by individual, and those with mold allergies, chronic respiratory challenges, or compromised immune systems may be especially susceptible to allergens like mold, dust mites, and pollen, as well as bacterial and viral infections.

With mold essentially existing everywhere human beings inhabit, and with individual sensitivities to mold varying by person, cleaning, dusting, and maintaining general room hygiene to lessen the opportunity for additional mold growth are generally seen as the primary recommendations for addressing common mold concerns in indoor spaces. This may also coincide with heightened vigilance on the part of individuals with special sensitivies to common molds, depending on the nature of those sensitivities.

In the October report, iSi recommended cleaning the through-the-wall units in McMindes Hall to remove residual spores and cleaning the dust from the tops of thermal pipes at the ceiling in McMindes Hall. iSi also recommended instructing the room occupants to maintain their rooms (e.g., not allowing trash and recyclables to accumulate, dusting surfaces as needed to avoid an accumulation that might enable mold growth, not allowing damp towels and clothing to accumulate in the room, and washing and thoroughly drying bed linens and dirty clothes to avoid odors and the accumulation of moisture and body oils that encourage bacteria, mold and dust mites).

In the March report, iSi recommends remediation of the through wall air units in McMindes, including removal of the insulation, and a regular inspection schedule for these units moving forward. iSi also recommends continued maintenance of the tops of the thermal lines in McMindes, cleaning the interior surfaces of the mini-split systems in Victor E. Village, and continued instruction to room occupants to maintain their rooms. iSi also noted that people have varying reactions to mold in their environment, and that occupants who feel they are susceptible to mold and have experienced symptoms should seek medical advice to make that determination.

At the time of the October report, FHSU was already implementing the iSi recommendations through the work order process it had established and communicated with students living in campus residence halls. Residence Life staff followed up directly with any students who did submit work orders, including the residents where iSi identified mold-related concerns. After the first week of November, Residence Life did not receive any mold-related work orders or concerns, until the recent concerns were raised.

FHSU’s review of iSi’s inspection report determined that there was no significant health or safety concern presented and that our cleaning efforts in the inspected spaces adhered to their professional recommendations. As noted above, FHSU was already implementing the iSi recommendations through the work order process it had established and communicated with students living in campus residence halls. Residence Life staff followed up directly with any students who did submit work orders, including the residents where iSi identified mold-related concerns. After the first week of November, Residence Life did not receive any mold-related work orders or concerns, until the recent concerns were raised.

There is no central HVAC system in either building. The HVAC system in McMindes operates via separate through-the-wall units in each room rather than a centralized HVAC system with ductwork throughout the building. The HVAC system in Victor E. Village operates through in-room units, without a centralized ductwork system, as well. Since the more recent mold concerns have been shared with the University, and based on iSi’s more in-depth second inspection of McMindes Hall and Victor E. Village on February 12, we have determined that a more extensive remediation of the individual units in these two residence halls is a necessary next step. This work is now underway.

Following the start of the spring semester, concerns about mold in the two residence halls began to surface again, primarily through social and news media reports. Given these concerns, the University felt it was appropriate to ask iSi to come back to do follow-up testing and inspections.

A team of industrial hygienists from iSi returned to the FHSU campus on Monday, Feb. 12, to conduct a follow-up inspection of McMindes Hall and Victor E. Village. iSi conducted a more extensive inspection of a random selection of student rooms and inspections of rooms that were either identified explicitly by students or identified in iSi’s first inspection. The March report from iSi outlines their inspections, observations, and recommendations, as noted above.

The University has secured the services of Restore and Clean, a certified commercial and residential cleaning and restoration company, to address the recommendations and ensure a deep cleaning of the individual rooms.

Specifically, on Monday, Feb. 19, Restore and Clean teams began a remediation process that includes opening, inspecting and cleaning every through-the-wall heating and air conditioning unit in McMindes Hall, and replacing each unit’s interior insulation and air filter. They are cleaning surface areas and overhead pipes in every room. Each room is prepped to ensure the containment of airborne particulate, and disposable materials used in the remediation are being carefully bagged and removed. Based upon the testing and information received from iSi to date, and Restore and Clean’s assessment of that information, and the comprehensive remediation effort selected, FHSU determined that it is not necessary for all students to vacate the residence halls during the remediation work.

Restore and Clean is currently anticipated to complete its work in McMindes Hall the week of March 4. Restore and Clean is reporting that the work is going smoothly and that they are seeing very little signs of mold. Once this remediation work is complete, the Restore and Clean team will move on to Victor E. Village.

No. iSi did not find any evidence of Stachybotrys, commonly referred to as “Black Mold,” in the rooms that were sampled. The types and levels of mold identified by their testing were documented and any concerns were noted, along with iSi’s associated recommendations.

Submit a work order to get the space inspected and cleaned as needed.

If you experience lingering respiratory issues or other health conditions you believe may be related to mold, consider consulting a physician and getting tested for allergen sensitivities.

If you have a documented sensitivity to mold or other allergens and believe that your room conditions are of concern, you can talk with Residential Life staff about the process for requesting room adjustments.

Submit work orders for removing any actual or suspected mold. Additionally,

• Do not allow trash and recyclables to accumulate, especially those with sugary residue.
• Regularly wash and dry your bed linens and towels. Dust surfaces as needed to avoid an accumulation that might allow mold growth.
• Do not place things like food, drinks, and wet towels on top of your room’s through-the-wall unit. Spilled sugary drinks and food particles can accumulate in the unit and fuel mold growth.
• Consider purchasing a room dehumidifier/air purifier.

1. Go to https://www.fhsu.edu/reslife/Forms/, and click on the link titled Work Order Request listed on the page.
2. Create an account if you haven’t already filed a work order at FHSU.
3. Contact Residence Life at 785.628.4245 or consult with your Community Assistant if you need assistance.

Our custodial team should respond within 24-48 hours during the work week and on the first work day of the week following a holiday break or weekend. You should expect the respondant(s) to listen to your concerns, inspect the area(s) in question, clean and secure the repair of specific potential problem areas uncovered in their inspection and work, and respond quickly to any concerns you have after they perform the requested service. If unsatisfied with the work completed, please follow up with your hall director.

We have been in conversation with both of these agencies. KDHE has been preparing a survey of FHSU students who live or lived in McMindes Hall or Victor E. Village between the beginning of the academic year and now. Students who live or lived in any other campus residence halls and submitted a mold-related work order should also receive the survey. We understand KDHE’s survey is focused on identifying any spike in upper respiratory illnesses among this student population.