March 18, 2002
Mold problem forces Waco church
to quarantine a two-story building
___John Hall
___Staff Writer
___BELLMEAD--A Central Texas church closed a two-story multipurpose building in late November after mold spread throughout the building, creating health problems for some members of the congregation.
___First Baptist Church of Bellmead discovered the mold after learning a large pipe had burst and flooded underneath much of the first floor of the building. That created the perfect environment for rapid mold growth, Pastor Bruce Austin said.
___Upon further inspection, a mold abatement company discovered the mold was not only under the first floor, but in the walls and ceiling of the building and near the nursery in another building as well.
___The mold readings--coupled with members complaining of watery or stinging eyes, shortness of breath and a bad smell--led the church to close the building until appropriate measures could be taken.
___According to the Centers for Disease Control, exposure to mold has not been "definitively linked" to any illnesses, but common reactions include lung problems and memory loss. People who have weakened immune systems seem to be at a higher risk for contracting an infection from molds. Allergic symptoms and difficulty breathing are reported as common reactions to mold. The CDC recommends a person experiencing such problems consult a physician for treatment.
___The $800,000 multipurpose building, which was built in the early 1950s, now stands vacant. Several Sunday School classes and a Spanish mission's worship services have been moved to other locations on the church grounds. Those changes, however, mean three families have been unable to attend their classes because they are unable to climb the stairs to get to them, Austin said.
___To further complicate the situation, an abatement company also discovered the building contains asbestos, which must be removed before the mold cleanup is completed. The estimated bill is about $200,000, according to Eddie Robertson, music minister at the church.
___The church would like to salvage as much of the building as possible, because it was remodeled two years ago. However, that doesn't seem to be possible, Robertson said.
___"If they do what they've been quoted to do, it'll be a gutted building essentially," he said. "And we can't tear it down and put the same thing up for what it's worth."
___The company will tear out all the parts of the building that contain the mold, including walls and parts of the roof. Those parts will be bagged and taken to a landfill.
___"Just killing it won't do anything," explained Mike Daniel, a bioremediation manager for ARC Abatement Inc. "It'll just come back. You have to take it out of the building."
___Although mold occurrences have been more publicized recently, with cases across central and north Texas, Daniel said mold is no more common today than in the past.?"They're not any more common; we are just more aware of the mold now," he said.
___Robertson estimated it will be 12 to 18 months before the church can raise the money, pay for the removal process and move back into the building.
___He urged other churches to repair leaks quickly and inspect buildings for mold growth after fixing the leaks.
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