Emma Havens Cleared To Reopen After Mold Cleanup

BRICK, NJ — A final round of air testing at Emma Havens Young Elementary School has shown mold levels in the school are lower than the levels outside the school and the school will open on time next week, district officials said Tuesday evening.

Brick Township School District officials released the report from Dr. Richard Lynch of Environmental Management Services Corp., in which he said the likely cause of the "mold-like discoloration on some desk surfaces" in classrooms in the 100 wing was the high chronic outdoor humidity over the past several weeks and the presence of shrubs and soil along the rear exterior wall covering the fresh air intakes for classrooms in that wing.

"Dr. Lynch has provided a final report indicating that mold levels inside Emma Havens Young Elementary School are less than the levels found outside, in the fresh air. He further states that building activities can resume," district officials said.

Lynch's report said airborne mold levels in all rooms within the lower 100 wing ranged between 970 to 3,600 spores per cubic mililiter of air (approximately 1/10th to 1/3rd of outdoor levels) comprised of common outdoor mold types at levels typical for outdoor levels in August 2018 in New Jersey, and considered normal. Airborne mold levels in random comparison classrooms and the main office ranged between 430 to 2,600 spores/m3 also comprised of a subset of common outdoor mold types and considered normal, Lynch's report said.

Work continues at Lake Riviera Middle School and the district is monitoring all other district schools, officials have said.

Mold Report for Emma Havens Young Elementary School by Karen Wall on Scribd

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