Moldy East Quad room sparks safety concerns

By Kay Bhagat

For the Daily

The mold-infested room that East Quad resident Dana Lee found when she returned from winter break has sparked concerns among students about safe and healthy living conditions in residence halls on campus.

Upon finding the mold, Lee, an RC sophomore, immediately notified Housing Security.

Patty Watt, the University's industrial manager for hygiene and safety, said it appears a steam leak created by a broken heater led to the formation of mold on surfaces in Lee's room.

Conditions such as these pose a possible health risk.

Biology Prof. Robert Fogel said exposure to this toxic material could greatly jeopardize students' health and lead to an abundance of respiratory problems.

"Common molds are particularly harmful to those with weak immune systems but are not healthy breathing conditions for anyone," Fogel said.

Due to the contamination, Lee was immediately relocated to another room in East Quad. She will live there for the rest of the winter term while Housing officials correct the leak and renovate her room.

LSA sophomore Paul Black, who lives in Lee's hall, said her room was unusually warm.

"The heating problem began before she went on break, which is why she left her window open on purpose. Her RA closed the window before leaving for vacation, so the closed window may have caused the mold," Black said.

Although situations such as Lee's are rare, Fogel said, there is a greater awareness of occurrences of mold and of the conditions that produce it.

"Restricted air movement helps molds grow faster, better and bigger," he said.

Mold grows in enclosed areas where moisture resides, causing a decay of the insides of walls and other surfaces.

A mold infestation is usually difficult to extinguish. Lee's walls are in the process of being repainted and her floors will be retiled. An air filtering system is present outside her room in order to prevent further airborne mold from infecting other rooms. Watt said the University is taking responsibility for the cleanup.

"The University is taking care of the expenses of cleaning up the room. They will also reimburse her for any damaged items," she said.

Once the source of moisture is completely eliminated from the room, the mold will not reoccur, but preventing mold from other rooms is more difficult.

"There was nothing unique about her room, components just failed over time," Watt said.