The mold being removed from Fort Meade barracks poses no immediate health threat, officials said, but military service members are still wary about living in moldy rooms.
“We’re working on a long-term solution, trying to spend money wisely and not committing millions of dollars to a temporary solution,” said Col. Kenneth McCreedy, the fort’s commander, during a second tour of the 1950s-era barracks Tuesday.
Since The Examiner?s first visit to the barracks the previous week, mold abatement crews have closed off parts of the barracks housing Air Force students attending the nearby Defense Information School.
New pipes have been installed, and “bio-paint” that kills mold was sprayed on walls and ceilings where dark-colored mold had been growing.
“They?re hitting it pretty heavy on the maintenance of the building … the improvement is progressing,” said Air Force Tech. Sgt. Keith Choate.
The Air Force and Marine Corps barracks have years-old mold issues because of aging plumbing and outdated heating and cooling systems, officials said.
But some service members living in the barracks said the situation is unsettling despite the improvements.
“We need to get them out of there as soon as possible, especially if they got to worry about living conditions,” said Marine Maj. Danny Chung, commanding officer of the Marine Corps barracks.
But, mold still existed in some rooms. McCreedy discovered mold on a wall behind a desk during the tour of the Air Force barracks.
Health and environment inspectors toured the barracks this past week, and found some mold in many of the rooms in the Air Force barracks, said Mick Butler, director of the fort?s environment division.
A letter sent to service members this past weekend said the mold “presents no immediate threats” and a few “persons might be susceptible to mold-induced respiratory conditions.” Those people would be placed elsewhere on the fort.
A few airmen have had respiratory problems, but doctors could not link them to mold, McCreedy said.
The problems could persist despite efforts to halt mold growth, officials said.
“As soon as the air conditioners come on, the problems could multiply,” McCreedy said.
Dehumidifiers were installed to reduce the moisture, but the buildings? antiquated electrical system allowsonly half of the machines on one floor to run at a time or risk shorting the entire building?s system, officials said.
The Army has committed $52 million to repair four barracks, but renovations to two barracks may not be complete until July 2010, McCreedy said.
