FAQ

Inspections of building areas are being conducted, and cleaning actions are being taken or scheduled for ductwork and other air handling system components. Additional sampling also has been scheduled.

Yes. Using a thorough and rigorous assessment, remediation, and validation process the Sandels building can be safely and effectively remediated of mold growth. The exact steps needed to remove mold growth and to restore air conditioning systems so that they prevent mold from re-growing still must be determined. The time and cost to fully remediate the building and its heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems will be determined as we proceed through the process.

Yes. Over two dozen state-owned or leased buildings in Tallahassee have experienced similar types of mold growth and were successfully remediated while staff continued to occupy them.

The Williams Building is scheduled for evaluation. Other reports will be addressed as they are received.

As with the Sandels Building, conditions will be evaluated by assessment and remediation specialists, and a plan of action developed.

Radon results from certified test methods in the building have ranged from 0.3-7.0 pCi/L in the basement or floors 1 and 2. Radon is an odorless, tasteless, colorless gas, present in many areas of the world including Florida. It is formed by environmental decay of some radioactive metals (e.g., radium, thorium). It may enter homes and commercial buildings as a result of its presence in surrounding soils. Because it is a naturally occurring substance, exposure is common and unavoidable. Outdoor levels typically are in the 0.4-0.5 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) range, and indoor levels generally range from 1-2 pCi/L. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), and many other organizations have adopted a default “action level” of 4 pCi/L for radon in residential and commercial buildings, though that value was not established specifically on the basis of occupational exposure considerations. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) has established a radon exposure limit of 30 pCi/L for adult employees, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an acceptable 8-hour Time Weighted Average Permissible Exposure Limit (TWA-PEL) of 100 pCi/L for radon.

As noted, because radon is naturally present, it is not typically possible to remove all radon from building air. However, there are proven mitigation techniques to decrease radon levels, including installation of engineering barriers to reduce or eliminate radon entry from surrounding natural soils, coupled with modifications to building ventilation systems. These measures can reduce radon to less than or equal to 4 pCi/L.

A number of the laboratories on the 4th floor of the Sandels Building have reagents and chemicals stored in various locations. It is incumbent on individual researchers to handle and store those chemicals properly. Several lists of chemicals related to specific laboratories have been provided to FSU Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), and those lists are being reviewed to assist in decision-making concerning management of the materials. Most of the substances included on those lists are common products, are innocuous, or exhibit very limited toxic potential. For others, specific storage and handling requirements may be appropriate.

Mold is the general term used to describe any of thousands of microorganisms in the kingdom Fungi.

Sample results from prior assessments have indicated the presence of Cladosporium growth in air conditioning systems and ducts of the Sandels building. Cladosporium is the most common fungus in the outdoor air throughout much of the Eastern United States. Species of this fungus decompose leaves and debris and grows on living and dead plants and are frequently found growing inside of air conditioning systems and supply ducts of buildings. While Cladosporium can produce volatile compounds and odors, and sometimes releases spores and hyphal fragments, they do not produce any significant toxins and do not commonly cause respiratory infections in people. Exposure to Cladosporium spores in the outdoor air typically surpasses indoor exposures by a wide margin.

The outdoor environment is the primary source of fungal exposures, with outdoor air concentrations of spores ranging from 10 to 10,000 spores per cubic meter (spores/m3). When fungal spores enter buildings and their ventilation systems, they deposit in settled dust. If nutrient and moisture conditions are ideal, the spores can germinate and begin growing on drywall, wood and cellulose, cooling coils and on settled dust within air conditioning ducts.

No. All buildings have some low level of mold in the air. There will always be some low level of mold detectable in the air of a building because there is mold in outdoor air. However, there should not be evidence of “mold growth” in the building or its HVAC systems. Interior surfaces should have levels of mold on surfaces similar to “new materials” that have not experienced water damage or mold growth.

Generally, different fungi pose varying health risks, with the most common symptoms being allergies and transient upper airway irritation. There are a handful of fungi that are considered opportunistic pathogens, capable of causing respiratory and other infections in critically ill people with compromised immune systems. Those circumstances are very unusual.

There are no rules, regulations, or laws that have set exposure limits for fungi or their spores in indoor environments.

Because of inherent variability in background and outdoor concentrations of mold spores and significant technical limitations in available sampling methods for mold in air, the scientific consensus is that air sample results are unreliable. While air samples for mold are often collected and considered when assessing buildings, they are not reliable as an indicator of risk.

Employees

The Employee Assistance Program is a free, confidential program that provides brief intervention/short-term counseling, referrals (if needed) and follow-up services to help FSU employees.

Employee Assistance Program
937 W Jefferson St
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4190
Phone: (850) 644-2288
https://eap.fsu.edu/

Students

University Counseling & Psychological Services offers Telemental Health Servces, in-person services, and Telephonic Crisis Support to students.

Counseling and Psychological Services
942 Learning Way
Tallahassee, FL 32306-4175
Phone: (850) 644-TALK (8255)
https://counseling.fsu.edu/

Anytime you have health concerns, you should consult your physician. Your physician is best situated to consider any individualized health concerns alongside your complete medical history. The results of the environmental testing have been made available on this website and can be reviewed with your physician, if you desire to do so. Should your physician determine that you may have a work-related illness or injury, those matters are addressed via the workers’ compensation system as explained below.

You may report any work-related injury or illness to AmeriSys, the state’s Workers’ Compensation provider, by calling 1-800-455-2079. Subsequently, you can complete the Accident Investigation Report and forward a copy to hr-workerscomp@fsu.edu and the Office of Human Resources will obtain the remaining signatures.

The Florida Department of Financial Services makes all claim determinations.

Filing a work-related injury/illness should be done immediately upon the onset of symptoms. If the onset of symptoms does not occur until later, you may report the work-related illness, but please ensure this is done immediately upon the onset of symptoms.

AmeriSys must pre-authorize all medical treatment (except for emergency care). If you do not seek medical treatment from an approved provider, workers compensation will likely not cover the expenses.

If you believe you are entitled to Workers' Compensation, but your claim was denied, contact the state’s Employee Assistance Office (EAO) at 1-800-342-1741. Although the EAO does not provide legal advice, EAO specialists will answer questions about your rights and responsibilities and may be able to resolve problems you're having with your workers' compensation claim. This help is free and available by contacting the EAO at 1-800-342-1741.

You may also contact the University’s worker’s compensation manager at hr-workerscomp@fsu.edu for information on appealing your denial.

All questions and concerns may be sent to sandelsresponse@fsu.edu, and we will try to answer your individual questions to the best of our ability.

Messages submitted through this portal may be subject to disclosure pursuant to Florida’s public records laws. To ensure the privacy and protection of your personal health information (PHI), please do not submit any PHI or private health details via this website or e-mail.

We are committed to a transparent process. All updates related to the building, including the preliminary results of the radon testing and air filter laboratory analysis, are available at Sandels Response: Documents.