Mold and the Indoor Air Quality Crisis
in Public Schools
One in five schools reportedly has unsatisfactory indoor air quality as
microbiological contaminants, and volatile organic compounds contribute
to increased absenteeism and chronic respiratory problems like asthma.
(PRWEB) March 8, 2006 -- Parents, teachers, school administrators, and
particularly children have a common enemy in public education -- poor
indoor air quality caused by a variety of contaminants such as mold,
microbes, and chemicals. Though about 55 million people, or 20 percent
of the US population, spend their days in elementary and secondary
schools, indoor air quality was reported to be unsatisfactory in about
one in five public US schools, according to the National Center for
Education Statistics of the Department of Education.
“Staff and students deserve a healthy indoor environment that is
conducive to teaching and learning,” states a US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) “Tools for Schools” brochure. “Yet indoor levels
of air pollutants may be 2-5 times higher, and occasionally 100 times
higher, than outdoor levels. Poor indoor air quality can cause
headaches, fatigue, sinus congestion, coughing, and sneezing; it can
promote the spread of airborne infectious diseases. Indoor pollutants
can be particularly harmful to students with allergies or asthma.”
Asthma alone accounts for over 14 million missed school days per year.
Asthma’s prevalence in schools has been linked to mold, bacteria, higher
concentrations of volatile organic compounds, and higher relative air
humidity.
Mold, perhaps the severest threat to indoor air quality, has caused
school closings nationwide from Arizona to Maine, California to Florida.
School districts have spent millions on mold remediation. At the extreme
end, District 303 in St. Charles, Illinois, spent upwards of $28 million
on mold remediation, renovation, repair and temporary facilities.
A process called “ThermaPure”, licensed by E-Therm (www.thermapure.com),
an environmental remediation innovator based in Ventura, Calif., uses
superheated, dehumidified air to disinfect, decontaminate, and dry out
buildings in much the same way heat is used to pasteurize milk.
In the ThermaPure process, technicians use portable heaters, fans and
air scrubbers to inject superheated air into the affected space, raising
the temperature of a single room or entire structure to as much as 160º
F for several hours.
Heat has shown to be effective in destroying active mold growth sites,
and kills viable spores, bacteria, viruses, protozoa, insects, and other
heat-sensitive pests and organisms. Heat also accelerates the
off-gassing of odors, VOCs and toxins, even in inaccessible areas,
without the use of harmful chemicals.
When used in conjunction with or instead of traditional “remove and
replace” remediation, ThermaPureHeat treatment can significantly cut the
cost of improving a school’s indoor air quality and reduce the timeframe
(loss of use) of school facilities while remediation is taking place.
Because research has shown heat to be effective in destroying allergen
proteins, such as dust mite allergens beginning at 140 F, ThermaPureHeat
treatment is an effective way to control a range of indoor allergens
that can incite asthma or respiratory problems.
The process, in fact, can significantly reduce common asthma triggers
such as insects, dust mites, cockroaches, fungi, and bacteria in
addition to mold. Formaldehyde, VOCs, pollen, animal dander, and
second-hand smoke are among other indoor irritants that may be reduced.
For More Information:
Dave Hedman
E-Therm, Inc.
180 Canada Larga Road
Ventura, Ca. 93001
Phone: 1-866-665-3432
Fax: 805-648-6999
www.thermapure.com
Press Contact: Dave Hedman
Company Name: E-Therm, Inc.
Phone: 866-665-3432
Website:
www.thermapure.com |
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