mold-symptom.com

VACAVILLE -- Slowly, like a fungus creeping over a damp well, black mold is replacing asbestos as the plaintiff's lawyer's dream

Stachybotrys chartarum, as the greenish-black mold is known in scientific circles, grows on materials such as fiberboard and paper if exposed to constant moisture, such as water leaks and excessive humidity. It emits toxic chemicals called mycotoxins that can cause cold-like allergic symptoms in some people, especially those with pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma.

The dangers of black mold now face workers in Vacaville's police administration offices. A dozen police department employees were evacuated Monday after black mold was discovered in their section of City Hall.

A few of those employees have filed worker compensation claims because of health problems they think the mold caused, Assistant City Manager Pat Moreno said.

The city hired RGA Consulting to test the entire building for mold. It found stachybotrys in numerous areas plus at least five other molds in higher than normal levels, but determined there's no immediate health risk.

"The stachybotrys is what really concerned the employees," Moreno said. "The other molds are normally found in buildings."


City officials plan to continue testing this week, including an infrared scan of the building to determine the cause of the growth. They expect results in three to four weeks.

The concerns came after an employee complained to the maintenance department about an odd scent similar to mildew. After some investigation, workers found mold under the plastic lining in the carpet. Employees there then moved to other areas deemed safe of the toxic mold.

"Our employees health is our No. 1 priority," Moreno said.

Like other molds, black mold can turn into a terrible problem if allowed to grow unchecked, said Brad Lotus, an environmental sciences professor at the University of California, Davis.

But it is also quite preventable, Lotus added.

While wet the mold looks black and slimy, sometimes with white edges. It looks less shiny once it dries and is most commonly found in buildings with plumbing leaks, roof leaks, sewer backup or flooding in the basement.

This isn't the first time the city has received complaints about the condition of the building. City Hall has undergone numerous tests in the past that uncovered potential health hazards to employees.

In one case, workers had to adjust the air conditioning and heating system to prevent health dangers.

"There have been concerns in the past," Moreno said. "But they have all been addressed."