New Sheriff is playing politics

[Willy]

I think the new sheriff is playing politics. I read in the LDN that, OMG, there's mold in the jail. I know we've talked about this before but now the Sheriff's got the newspaper involved. He's definitely trying to drum up support for his need to have the County fork over tax dollars to clean up the jail. I don't think the Sheriff realizes that mold has been around for a billion years and that it's one of the easiest creations of nature to control. Mr. Sheriff, do some housecleaning once in a while and your mold problems will go away and if it comes back, do a some more cleaning and add a dehumidifier. I can see that the new Sheriff will have no remorse at spending as much of our money as he can get a hold of.

http://ludingtondailynews.com/news/70057-mold-found-in-jail-building

[Chuck Finley]

The mold was covered on the 11:00 news tonight so it is in the public. Maybe the commissioners didn't want it in the public and wanted to keep it hushed up so they didn't look bad to the county

[XLFD]

Here's that report:

Northern Michigan's News Leader

[Willy]

I like how the reporter states that this mold is one of the worst but thankfully no one has gotten sick. Your only going to get sick if you are allergic to that type of mold. That mold has been in the air at the jail for years. The Sheriff is making a big deal over this and in my opinion for publicity. That mold has probably been there since the building was erected because that is most likely when the leak started to occur. If there had been a dehumidifier in that area there would be no mold build up. Right now they could spray that area with a mixture of water and a small amount of bleach and guess what, mold be gone. The only problem is that once it attaches to the drywall then the drywall should be replaced. But this is not a major bio hazard as the Sheriff is playing this up to be.

[XLFD]

Are you then saying that the sheriff is making a mountain out of a mold hill? 

[Jane]

FAQ from CDC site: mold info from cdc site

HERE ARE A FEW EXCERPTS FROM THE ABOVE LINKED MUCH LONGER FAQ

I heard about "toxic molds" that grow in homes and other buildings. Should I be concerned about a serious health risk to me and my family?

The term "toxic mold" is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. There is always a little mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven.

In 2004 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, and wheeze in otherwise healthy people; with asthma symptoms in people with asthma; and with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals susceptible to that immune-mediated condition. The IOM also found limited or suggestive evidence linking indoor mold exposure and respiratory illness in otherwise healthy children. In 2009, the World Health Organization issued additional guidance, the WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Dampness and Mould  [PDF - 2.52 MB]. Other recent studies have suggested a potential link of early mold exposure to development of asthma in some children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development, and that selected interventions that improve housing conditions can reduce morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies, but more research is needed in this regard.

A common-sense approach should be used for any mold contamination existing inside buildings and homes. The common health concerns from molds include hay fever-like allergic symptoms. Certain individuals with chronic respiratory disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma) may experience difficulty breathing. Individuals with immune suppression may be at increased risk for infection from molds. If you or your family members have these conditions, a qualified medical clinician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment. For the most part, one should take routine measures to prevent mold growth in the home.

What are the potential health effects of mold in buildings and homes?

Mold exposure does not always present a health problem indoors. However some people are sensitive to molds.

How do you keep mold out of buildings and homes?

As part of routine building maintenance, buildings should be inspected for evidence of water damage and visible mold. The conditions causing mold (such as water leaks, condensation, infiltration, or flooding) should be corrected to prevent mold from growing.

Specific Recommendations:

• Keep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%--all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
• Use air conditioner or a dehumidifier during humid months.
• Be sure the home has adequate ventilation, including exhaust fans in kitchen and bathrooms.
• Use mold inhibitors which can be added to paints.
• Clean bathroom with mold-killing products.
• Do not carpet bathrooms.
• Remove and replace flooded carpets.

NOW ON TO MY PERSONAL OPINION.............

If throughout the daily/weekly/monthly/yearly cleaning responsibilities of people and crew of a public building of any type there should be a procedure of who to report sightings of certain issues to for resolution. That person should have a manual telling them what steps to take to rectify the situation. AGAIN, it does not matter if it is Cole, Fiers or Chieftain of Jarsoom running the building, there should be a process for issues such as this.

I would think buildings like this run by a county/city/state would have inspections at regular intervals for issues that buildings housing people such as a jail are in need of having. I would also think a group like EPA or OSHA or some other .org would have some manuals as to the upkeep and inspection and maintenance timelines of said buildings.

My concern here locally is that I wonder if our local boards and committees are qualified for their jobs if they do not have the steps in order for a Sheriff or administrator to know who to report issues to and what to do about them such as in the case of a leaky pipe fitting or whatever it was being replaced that could have prevented a mold issue. As I assume a shower HEAD being in the shower stall itself would be of no consequence to what is inside a wall as they are separate parts of the system.

I would be concerned if one of my loved ones was housed in a building without proper guidelines for those running the buildings to follow and those people following said guidelines.

I think Cole is doing the right thing in getting it cleaned up. But I wonder why it has become such a big deal as to make it on 9&10 news. After all, how hard is it to repair the pipes and the space around that is damaged? I would assume to call in a qualified plumber and contractor to do their respective parts of the repairs and I would also assume they would not take more than a few days each.

It does seem like this issue is being passed off as  more extreme than it needs to be. It is some basic plumbing and construction work, not a brownfield cleanup site as it seems to be portrayed as.

[Willy]

Very interesting Jane

[Chuck Finley]

So what you are saying is that only healthy people should be brought to jail.... All arrests should be screened first for any allergies and health problems or they shouldn't be arrested?

[Chuck Finley]

Jane you seem to be very knowledgable about the jail do you work there?

[Mary Lucas]

Do you know what a Union Stewart acts like? OMG we don't livein the past anymore.

[Mary Lucas]

Smart jane' now do research on the type of black mold the Sheriff Dept building/Jail has and see if what they have is dangerous to their health then just the plain "toxic mold" you looked up. There is a name to all kinds of mold. I believe the kind the jail has was mentioned on here somewhere

[Jane]

I believe this is what you speak of and it is covered in the FAQ linked above

How common is mold, including Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys atra) in buildings?

Molds are very common in buildings and homes and will grow anywhere indoors where there is moisture. The most common indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. We do not have precise information about how often Stachybotrys chartarum is found in buildings and homes. While it is less common than other mold species, it is not rare.

What is Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra)?

Stachybotrys chartarum (also known by its synonym Stachybotrys atra) is a greenish-black mold. It can grow on material with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content, such as fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, and lint. Growth occurs when there is moisture from water damage, excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, water infiltration, or flooding. Constant moisture is required for its growth. It is not necessary, however, to determine what type of mold you may have. All molds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal.

[Mary Lucas]

Wow health risk. Do you Jane want to be housed in those cells?  If you look it up more it can cause brain damage. And death. And respiratory problems. Jane you don't think its a big deal you and others here go to the jail. Tell them you want to be housed in o e of those cells for a day. See what happens. Well for one you won't do it. And for two I'm sure they won't put you in there. Why jan? Cause its a health risk, and well they wouldn't do that to you or anyone else. Not even a inmate, because they take care of ppl and protect them.