Mold in Workplace

Question:

Hi everyone, I am new to the group.  My situation is that I work in a building which has documened mold in the building (2 environmental stuides have been done which show it).  My questtion is, can asthma be made worse by working in this environment? Before you ask while I am still there I work for the government who moves slowly on anything and have too many years already worked to just walk away.  I also cannot afford to take leave without pay. I notice that my symptoms are worse at work than when I’m home. Thanks. Pamela

Response:

> I am new to the group.  My situation is that I work in a building > which has documened mold in the building (2 environmental stuides have > been done which show it).  My questtion is, can asthma be made worse > by working in this environment? > Before you ask while I am still there I work for the government who > moves slowly on anything and have too many years already worked to > just walk away.  I also cannot afford to take leave without pay. > I notice that my symptoms are worse at work than when I’m home.

Yes, mold at work can make the asthma worse. If you aren’t planning on leaving that environment, the only optiions I can think of are: (1) see your doctor about increasing the dose or adding to your current medications or (2) buy a HEPA filter and run it in your office. However, you may find that you will need to leave (a choice between one’s health and one’s job is a tough one; I’ve been through it more than once and eventually I simply had to leave). Joan

Response:

> I am new to the group.  My situation is that I work in a building > which has documened mold in the building (2 environmental stuides have > been done which show it).  My questtion is, can asthma be made worse > by working in this environment? > Before you ask while I am still there I work for the government who > moves slowly on anything and have too many years already worked to > just walk away.  I also cannot afford to take leave without pay. > I notice that my symptoms are worse at work than when I’m home. > Thanks. > Pamela

If the mold gets into the air circulation, you could have an allergic reaction to it. Mold can also cause various lung diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis. http://www.chestnet.org/education/pccu/vol14/lesson06.html Excerpts: Disease Ventilator lung                   Antigen Source               Contaminated humidifiers, dehumidifiers,               air conditioners, heating systems                            Probable Antigen                      Thermophilic actinomycetes                           Thermoactinomyces candidus                           T vulgaris                      Penicillium sp                      Cephalosporium sp                      Amoeba sp                      Klebsiella sp                      Candida sp Maybe consider wearing an NIOSH N-95 surgical mask. http://www.3m.com/product/m_index/Mask,_3M(TM)_Health_Care_N95_Partic… http://products.3m.com/us/healthcare/products/healthcare-medical.jhtm… If there is mold in the air circulation, there could be other contaminants in addition. E

Response:

You could ask the management to repair the building. If they refuse or drag their feet look for employment elsewhere, or ask to be transferred citing medical reasons. Lane

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi everyone, > I am new to the group.  My situation is that I work in a building > which has documened mold in the building (2 environmental stuides have > been done which show it).  My questtion is, can asthma be made worse > by working in this environment? > Before you ask while I am still there I work for the government who > moves slowly on anything and have too many years already worked to > just walk away.  I also cannot afford to take leave without pay. > I notice that my symptoms are worse at work than when I’m home. > Thanks. > Pamela

Response:

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