How to Test for Toxic Mold in Schools

Mold and mildew inside a building are health hazards. Toxic mold or black mold can be especially dangerous to younger children and can cause health conditions such as asthma, flu-like symptoms and other respiratory problems. Mold can also cause serious damage to a classroom and its supplies. Inspection may take some time, but there are ways that you can detect mold in your school and classroom. Once you have found the mold, take the proper precautions to eliminate it.

Things You'll Need

• Surgical mask
• Latex gloves
• Disposable camera

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Wear your protective mask. This mask will prevent you from inhaling air-borne mold spores. Inspect carpeted areas or any areas that have experienced water damage. Lift a small section of the rug or carpet off the floor. Mold can come in different colors, and can appear cottony in texture. Areas prone to high levels of moisture or humidity can also be breeding places for mold.

• 2

  Inspect any areas that have a musty odor. Make sure to wear your gloves. Mold can also have a distinct, musky odor. Any waterlogged books or supplies are a breeding haven for mold. If you find a book with fuzzy textures growing on its pages, throw it out. Mold is very difficult to remove from porous items such as paper or wood.

• 3

  Check the bathrooms in your school. Sinks that have drips or leaks are another place where mold may grow. Again, if there is a musky scent in the bathroom, there is a high probability that you are exposed to mold.

• 4

  Speak with other faculty members to see if they have found any signs of mold. Take pictures of the evidence and present them to the school administration. The mold should be removed by a professional mold-removal company. Make sure that the children are not present in the school when the removal occurs.