Mold results from a student living in Lawrence Tower from the Mold Mentor Lab. Credit: Courtesy of Jennifer Schusterman
Following initial reports of mold and mushroom growth in Lawrence Tower, a larger problem is being brought to light, as the university has announced plans to conduct broad dorm testing and relocate all residents by the beginning of spring semester.
The Lantern obtained documents Nov. 15 detailing mold tests executed in 28 Lawrence Tower dorm rooms by PriorityLab. Twenty-seven of the 28 dorm rooms in question showed a significant amount of mold growth, especially for “indoor problem fungi” — mold that can be toxic to humans, according to the PriorityLab report. Dave Isaacs, university spokesperson, said Friday the removal of students from Lawrence Tower is not correlated to the PriorityLab testing.
The report detailed that in one room, there were 2,000,000 spores found Nov. 15. The control amount of spores is 9,900. The report also states the spores are “too numerous to count accurately and the spore counts are estimated.”
Lawrence Tower houses roughly 500 students, according to the Columbus Dispatch. Isaacs told The Lantern in a Thursday email that students will be moved to “alternative accommodations” to “minimize further disruptions to their student experience and facilitate ongoing renovations.”
“Each student will have the option to move to a new on-campus or master-leased near-campus location, or to elect to cancel their housing contract to move home, live with a relative or identify an alternative housing option,” Isaacs said. “We will promptly work directly with any residents of rooms that indicate the need for more immediate relocation or further analysis.”
Isaacs said the university is analyzing each room individually with the aid of a third-party consultant and Columbus Public Health. Students who do not want to relocate are permitted to stay in their rooms “when possible” until the end of the semester.
“The university has started receiving and processing results from air-quality testing conducted in all rooms in Lawrence Tower, except for those under current remediation,” Isaacs said. “Early review indicates that most rooms are within the expected range when compared to the immediate outdoor environment.”
The PriorityLab testing was completed at the request of parents in the “Lawrence Tower–Ohio State Freshman 2024” Facebook group, in which parents could choose to participate in a mold test for around $100 per room, according to posts on the group’s page.
The records and testing results are owned by Mold Mentor — a company that provides mold consulting, water restoration and indoor air quality testing services, according to its website — while testing itself was carried out by PriorityLab.
“We cannot verify or confirm the report, but we are aware of it,” Ben Johnson, university spokesperson, said in an email. “We take air quality seriously, have comprehensive environmental health and safety protocols, are working closely with Columbus Public Health, and are offering alternative accommodations as needed.”
PriorityLab’s mold analysis shows that Chaetomium — more commonly known as “black mold,” an allergenic — has been found in 22 of the 28 tested Lawrence dorm rooms. In room 212, Chaetomium makes up 88% of the mold content in the living space, according to the report.
Additionally, the report notes “Mold concentrations in the air are abnormal.”
“[There likely is] a mold source from which spores are able to become airborne and are an exposure risk to the occupants,” the report states, referring to 27 of the 28 tested dorms.
Another common mold type found by testing was Penicillium/Aspergillus — a common outdoor mold spore that can cause allergies and infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
John Shane, chief mycologist at PriorityLab, said in an email that while the types of mold found within Lawrence Tower are common, the high levels could indicate a water source nearby that supports growth at a higher rate and could have detrimental effects on residents.
Shane said these types of mold can be damaging to people’s health if they are exposed for a long period of time, but suggested they should see a personal physician before making any assumptions about perceived harm.
“Do not use the internet to investigate the health effects of mold — you will go down a rabbit hole, and it gets scary,” Shane said. “Most people are not affected by mold. However, prolonged and/or acute exposure is not generally considered healthy for anybody.”
Parents of Ohio State students remain concerned with the university’s response surrounding the mold growth. Jennifer Schusterman, a parent of a student who lived in Lawrence Tower before being moved due to the mold, said she feels disappointed by Ohio State’s overall reaction.
“[The university] wants students to be honest and have accountability,” Schusterman said in a Facebook message. “Plus, you expect them to uphold the student code of conduct. Practice what you preach.”
Schusterman’s student had the Mold Mentor test done in her dorm room Nov. 3 and received the results Nov. 6. Schusterman said though her student was hesitant to move, once the family saw the results, there was no other option.
“She was talking to housing, on the fence and did not want to really leave,” Schusterman said. “Like I said, once we saw the results, we made her leave.”
Shusterman said her student has experienced health issues since living in Lawrence Tower, like having a cough and headaches, which she said she believes could be symptoms of prolonged mold exposure. Schusterman said since being transferred to The Residence on 10th, her student feels “so much better.”
As for the mold growth in Lawrence Tower, Shane said mold grows fast but especially thrives on any wet substance.
“Mold spores will germinate almost immediately upon landing in a wet spot on any substance,” Shane said. “Since fungi are the primary cellulose degraders on earth, they like cellulose and sugars best because they are the easiest to utilize. Mold can germinate, grow and sporulate within 2 days. Some mold, like Penicillium, can have up to 40 million spores in 2 square inches.”
Shane notably said the mold does not have to be killed; it just has to be removed.
In an email, Isaacs said students should contact Service2Facilities if they notice “water-related or other issues” within their dorms. Issacs likewise advised students to “not remove wall coverings, pull up caulk or take other actions that would impact the structure of the space.”
This story was updated Friday, Nov. 22 at 9:38 a.m. to correct a quote attribution and headline and Friday, Nov. 22 at 11:25 a.m. to clarify the headline and include information from Isaacs that the PriorityLab testing does not correlate with the removal of students.
This story was updated Friday, Nov. 22 at 5:25 p.m. to include the number of students Lawrence Tower currently accommodates.
