Mold Is Possible Culprit In School’s Many Illnesses

Microscopic dust from mold found thriving in sections of Cle Elum-Roslyn High School might be the cause of numerous teacher and student illnesses there for the past year, a new report said.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health released its findings Monday based on a May inspection. But health officials say the report is inconclusive.

“They’ve definitely found a toxin, but there’s no evidence it’s gone airborne,” said Kittitas County Health Officer James Gale. “For those who were waiting for a definitive answer, we don’t have one for them yet.”

But parent Thelma Simon said the report confirms past speculation that the toxins caused by certain species of mold are the culprit.

“It justifies why all of these people are getting sick,” Simon said. “The molds are there.”

Among several molds identified in the report was a type called Stachybotrys, an unusual species that produces a black fungal dust that has, in rare cases, killed infants who have inhaled it.

Because some of the mold-laden areas are linked to the school’s ventilation system, the report says the mold particles could be sucked up and spread through the building. But officials note there’s no evidence the molds have been spread by air.

Agency investigators plan to visit the school again in September and check its air for toxic particles.

Ailments reported have included chronic migraine headaches, bloody noses, stomachaches, dizziness and respiratory problems, some of which are common with disorders caused by Stachybotrys.

In the past year, three teachers have taken extended sick leave, claiming they could not remain in the classroom without becoming ill. And an unknown number of the school’s 320 students have reported recurring symptoms, prompting some parents to withdraw their children.