<p>Son thinks he has identified odor in his room. They lifted a ceiling tile (has dropped ceiling) and the tops of the tiles and the ceiling above are covered in black mildew/mold. Isn’t this a health concern? Should housing be forced to clean up the problem? Anybody with an opinion?</p>
<p>I’ve become very hesitant to purchase anything that “scents” a room now. We had some of those small cardboard scented hangers that you put in cars. One was so strong at first that I put it in the glove compartment until it dissipated somewhat. My h. took it out some time later, and a plastic ice-scraper had “melted” where it touched the scented piece. It made me wonder what the chemicals do to our lungs! Anyone chemists know what active ingredients would cause that?</p>
<p>Depends on the air freshener brand…if you could find the wrapper for a similar one, or tell me what kind it was, I could probably tell you what caused the melting (most likely wasn’t the scent but some chemical used to bind the scent to the substrate.)</p>
<p>definitely - you need to talk to the head of dorms/maintenance about the mold. It needs to be treated with bleach/fungacides etc. - masking with sweet air freshners doesn’t deal with the real health issue here!</p>
<p>Mkm- get your son moved NOW if you can. Mold can be a HUGE health hazard, I kid you not. If it is the ceiling it is in a lot of other places as well.</p>
<p>menloparkmom and anxiousmom,
Son just called, said he is having trouble with headaches, sore throat, congestion. Of course it is hard to tell if he has just picked up a cold/virus, though he said after he is out of room for hours it is better. Has history of asthma. He is very upset with room. I’m calling tomorrow to see if I can get medical permission to move him off campus as when I called today they said they had 100% occupancy–so no moves. Guess I could fight to have room “fixed” but what a mess that would be.</p>
<p>tell your son to see a doctor and have it verified that the problem is the mold and not an allergy to something else or a cold before you go head to head with the reslife people. If you can verify it is an allergy to the mold, tell them you want it cleaned, or tell your son to lift down the tiles himself and at least spray them with lysol or 20% bleach to start killing the spores. Don’t move him off campus and risk losing the whole first year experience over some mold- tell them you want it cleaned, IF it’s clear that’s the problem.</p>
<p>I suggest that even without a link to asthma, the mold needs to be cleaned out. And I suggest not to do it yourself. Should anything happen to the tiles, your student would be held responsible. Maintenance work should be done by the college’s maintenance crew. Take pictures to document the problem, bring them to the RA, Dean of Housing, etc… and ask that the problem be addressed ASAP.</p>
<p>I thought of the picture idea this morning and will pursue that. UVM, it wouldn’t be a big deal if he moved off campus as it is his second year and he doesn’t like dorm life much anyway—but school requires 2 years on campus which is the only reason he is still in dorm.</p>
<p>His roommate is resisting getting school involved as he doesn’t want room disrupted to “fix” problem–if in fact there is a problem. I also did suggest to him to go to student health and see what they say.</p>
<p>Right now is the best time to fix the problem: before it gets worse and before the students are really into studying.</p>
<p>very true marite!</p>
<p>mkm,
because your son has asthma, his system is already compromised and every minute he is breathing in mold spores will make him more and more sick!. Regardless of his roomate, your son needs to get out of that building fast. Go to the dean orand do what ever it takes to make it happen!</p>
<p>Mold update----
Have message in to the school facility/environmental person to come and inspect room. Son has Dr. appt. scheduled for Fri.</p>
<p>another mold update,
Roommates mother came to look at room and was also concerned. School has not called back after 2 voice mails left, and son has not found right person in office. Have contracted with independent agent to come into room on Tues. and do necessary tests/samples and have sent to independent lab. I don’t know what else to do as I feel am already getting run around. If test okay, then I/we can feel better and know it must be some other allergen/virus whatever. Also, son has checked with some close by apt. complexes and there are available units, so if he has to move out, at least won’t be on street. Thanks to all for suggestions.</p>
<p>I bought a Glade warm scented oil plug in the fresh linen scent yesterday and plugged it in in the basement. My husband took it out and said he couldn’t breathe. He is very odor sensitive but thought I would mention it because if someone hate scents as much as my husband does they might not like a whole dorm with a certain scent - even if it’s as good as the fresh linen. I thought it was nice.</p>
<p>Kathiep, I had the same experience. After all the rave reviews, I too went out and got the fresh linen plug in. My husband couldn’t get it out of the outlet fast enough saying that the smell was giving him a headache.</p>
<p>I know this will sound harsh, but I would have a lawyer contact the school tommorow if possible[ first by phone and follow up with a letter] on your son’s behalf, stating the problem and their lack of response to this serious health issue. I would also move him out to the appt available asap, as this issue cannot be fixed with just a quick cleanup. If it’s in the ceiling, it is probably also in the walls, and could involve mutilple rooms. Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>menloparkmom,
Environmental health from the school called around 5 this evening. They are starting a clean-up tomorrow (he is staying elsewhere tonight and weekend)–they will replace ceiling tiles, clean everything and on Mon. put a 24hr. air collection unit in room to measure air quality. I think I will still follow up with independent contractor just to back up results if nothing else. Guess my son got hold of maintenance who looked at room and sprayed clorox around—son informed him that that did not meet the U.'s own mold policy guideline and maintenance man got env. health over to room. Hopefully, they are now taking care of it right—we’ll see after test results.</p>
<p>glad to hear some action has been taken, but do follow up with your own contractor to keep the college honest. Don’t let him move back until the cause of the problem is found! Mold will reappear if the reason it grew is not also taken care of. If he is in a basement room, and the mold is in the ceiling, then you need to have a plumber come to inspect the pipes running above the ceiling from the ground level. Water got in there from somewhere- the source of the water has to be found and fixed as well, or the mold will COME BACK.</p>
<p>Thanks, will follow up. In these cases its nice that he is not far away since I can drive over and scream in person if need be ;).</p>