Uncovering the Health Risks of Mold in Schools and How to Stop It

As students and teachers return from a well-deserved break, they bring renewed energy, unaware that mold may be silently spreading throughout the school. During a long holiday break, the schools remain closed and may retain moisture, resulting in mold growth.

School staff and management need to understand how to prevent mold growth before it leads to serious health concerns. If mold has already captured a large portion of the school building, the management must hire a mold removal worker to get the mold growth under control and remove it altogether.

Here, you’ll learn more about the health risks of mold in schools and methods to control mold growth. When you understand the risks and solutions, it can help create a safer, healthier environment for both students and staff.

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Reasons Behind Mold Growth in Schools

You must have noticed mold around your home's bathroom sinks, toilets, kitchen sinks, basements, doors, and windows. The reason behind this is the water retention and humidity. Similarly, mold can grow in a school building if not taken care of properly.

If there are leakages in the roofs or pipes, water may enter the classroom and increase the moisture level.
If the windows are not properly closed and there is a gap, rainwater may pour through the sides.
When schools are closed, the A/C or heating system is also shut down, resulting in increased moisture.
Students may leave food particles on the floor or ground. If schools are not properly cleaned, the airborne mold spores start feeding on that food and grow.
During carpet cleaning or washing, school rooms may retain increased moisture.
Moisture entering the rooms condenses after coming in contact with cooler areas like windows, pipes, walls, and ceilings, leading to mold growth.

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How Does Mold Growth in Schools Pose Health Risks?

Mold can impose adverse health effects on people, especially those with sensitive skin or respiratory problems. Regular exposure to mold-infested areas can lead to several other health issues.

Irritation and itching in the eyes
Skin allergies, like rashes and itching
Sneezing and coughing
Shortness of breath
Throat irritation
Frequent Headaches and fatigue
People with asthma can experience severe asthmatic issues.

Regular exposure to mold can affect the focus and overall academic performance of teachers, staff, and students in schools. Mold generally weakens the immune system, so people become more susceptible to infections, colds, and other illnesses.

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Schools?

School management needs to take strict action to inspect and control mold growth.

The first step is to control moisture inside the school building.
Schedule regular inspections to check for leaks in roofs, pipes, and other areas for water retention.
Regular maintenance programs should be planned for proper cleaning inside and outside the building.
After any wet cleaning, make sure it’s completely dry.
Check if the air conditioners and humidifiers are working properly.
Make arrangements for proper ventilation to control moisture.
Make sure that the relative humidity inside the rooms is between 30% and 50%
If mold has just started growing, remove it using a scrub with water and detergent and let the area dry.
Do not install carpets in areas that are in direct contact with water, such as near drinking fountains and classroom sinks, or on floors around the ground.
Check the exhaust system in bathrooms and store areas.
Add insulation to the cold surfaces, like cold water pipes, walls, windows, and floors.
Use mold-resistant drywall, paint, and insulation to prevent future problems.
Schedule cleaning programs during vacations so that moisture can’t be retained inside the closed rooms.
Train the school staff and teachers to recognize early signs of mold.
Guide students to report musty odors or visible mold growth.

These are only preventive measures to control mold growth. The school management must understand that if mold has already infested the school building, they need to hire a professional mold removal service.
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Takeaway

Schools are responsible for providing a safe and healthy learning environment to their students, teachers, and staff. A school has multiple buildings, plumbing systems, and HVAC units, which make it more prone to mold growth.

Mold in schools is a serious problem that should not be ignored. It can even compromise the health of students, teachers, and staff if not controlled early.

If you also notice mold growth in your school, don’t wait for it to become a severe health hazard. You need to take immediate action to remove the mold. If it’s in a small area, you can use DIY methods of mold cleaning, but if the infestation is severe, don’t compromise. Immediately call a professional mold abatement company to protect your building from further infestation.

Area Of Services

Mold Removal in Stockton

Mold Removal in Vacaville

Mold Removal in Sacramento

Are You Worried About the Mold Infestation in Your School Building? It’s Time to Call JM Environmental, Inc.

If you are also looking for an expert mold removal service in Stockton, you’re at the right place. We at JM Environmental Inc. are the best and the leading mold removal company in Stockton.

We follow the regulatory guidelines of mold removal and abatement. We have an experienced team of people who have been with us for more than 15 years. Our services are reliable, and you can trust us for effective mold removal. We not only kill the mold but also clean and sanitize the area to prevent it from future infestation.

We follow a 3-step process - Inspection, Removal, and Prevention to ensure the best results.

Call us at 866-726-0304 for clean and hygienic surroundings. We also deal in asbestos abatement, fire debris removal, lead removal, and decontamination.