Deidre BeadleAnyone who has ever lived in House two knows that it can use some improvement and now there is one more thing to add to their long list of things gone wrong: mold. It seems to be making itself at home in Cabrini’s housing complex and residents are becoming more perturbed with the overwhelming amounts of it growing around their living quarters.
Although mold is part of our natural environment, indoor mold can make people develop sicknesses. Mold in the buildings releases tiny spores to reproduce, which contaminate the air we breathe. Even worse is that mold-related illnesses are often misdiagnosed because those suffering are not even aware that they have a mold problem.
With flu season on the rise and vaccinations being handed out, many students think mold illness is one thing they should not have to worry about. According to the Mold Patrol Testing Unit, less serious mold related symptoms could cause allergic reactions, trigger asthma attacks, increase susceptibility to colds and flu and create sinus infections. More serious cases can cause a person to develop a skin rash and flu like symptoms can occur such as nasal stuffiness, fever, headaches, abdominal pain and diarrhea. It can also induce serious respiratory problems along with creating eye irritation. Wheezing or shortness of breath is also another symptom.
Mary Jo Rose, the associate nurse, proposed the idea that students should place a de-humidifier in their rooms to try and get out the damp moldy smell coming from the air vents.
Howard Holden, director of facilities, seemed to think that the media is fueling the mold scare right now.
