Parents: Mold may be sickening kids

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Mold growing in an Albuquerque preschool may be making children sick, according to a group of parents.

“My daughter has suffered from nosebleeds," said Nichole Rogers, one of the parents. "She has chronic sinusitis.

She’s had respiratory infections, numerous respiratory infections, (and) pneumonia."

Rogers is among more than 20 low-income parents with similar concerns, whose kids attend La Mariposa Head Start center in northeast Albuquerque.

Another parent, Brandi Martinez, said her son developed a "fungal dermatitis" on his legs. And a third parent, Yvonne Martinez, said her son has had numerous health issues.

"He had respiratory problems," Martinez said. "He has vision problems. He had lots of diarrhea. They were sending him home constantly because of stomachaches, headaches. He has nosebleeds."

The parents started worrying about conditions at the school during “parent clean-up days” earlier this year when they found what they thought was mold in parts of the building.

Since then, parents have been complaining about sick children, with illnesses ranging from skin rashes to breathing problems to nosebleeds.

“Since that concern was raised, we’ve had air quality tests conducted,” said Debra Baca, vice president for Youth Development Inc’s early childhood program, which oversees La Mariposa. “We’ve made some improvements to the center. We’ve been assured by the experts that the center is safe.”

Baca said an environmental study conducted at the preschool last month gave the building a clean bill of health.

“The very first thing we asked was, is the center safe?” Baca said. “Because if it’s not we would have shut it down.”

The study was conducted by Assaigai Analytical Laboratories, an Albuquerque company specializing in environmental science and industrial hygiene.

The study found mold in two hallways and a staff office, but said levels weren’t high enough to get anyone sick, according to Assaigai president Bill Biava. Assaigai wrote up a list of recommendations showing what needs to be done to keep conditions from getting worse.

“Number one that they must do is they got to repair the roof,” Biava said. “If the roof continues to leak, then the money that they invest in remediating those two hallways and that staff office will be wasted.”

YDI allowed News 13 to view the report, but officials refused to release a copy. Parents haven’t been able to get a complete copy either.

“We’ve taken quotes from the report and the conclusions trying to reassure parents that the air quality is safe,” Baca said.

Rogers questioned why school officials wouldn't release the report if everything is OK.

“We’ve requested the actual entire thick analysis that they’re claiming proves everything is fine with the building," Rogers said. "Well if that’s the case just give it to us."

Not only have the parents requested a copy of the environmental report, they also want a separate company to conduct another environmental study.

YDI will not release the report because parents have hired an attorney, which could lead to a lawsuit.

“We don’t want a lawsuit," Rogers said. "We’re not looking to get money. We’re looking to get it fixed so no other kids and no other staff members get sick."

A former employee told News 13 that La Mariposa had mold problems several years ago.

“You couldn’t even breathe," said Delilah Vallejos. "It smelled like a dirty fish tank."
Vallejos is mentioned in another environmental study from 2008 that showed dangerous mold levels in an office area at La Mariposa.

“I kept on having breathing problems throughout the school year until they finally moved me to another building,” Vallejos said.

According to YDI, the mold problems identified in the 2008 report were fixed.   But parents can’t help but suspect the problems are surfacing again.

“That’s all we’re asking for is the proof,” Rogers said. “There’s just too many coincidences. There’s too many people sick.”

Some parents have pulled their kids out of La Mariposa because of the mold concerns. Others say, because the Head Start program is catered to low-income families, finding another place to send their kids is difficult.

YDI has offered assistance to find other Head Start programs if the parents don’t feel comfortable.