County To Provide Free Mold Workshops For Residents

Union County Freeholders are providing seven (7) workshops throughout the county, three of them in neighboring towns, to educate home owners on how to identify and address mold in their houses. Mold can be a result of various factors including flooded basements, cracked windows or walls, leaky faucets, broken pipes, and high humid conditions caused by lack of ventilation. This mold can not only stain the interior of a property, it can also become a health hazard and cause other property damage.

The health effects of mold exposure include nasal and throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation and – in some cases – skin irritation. Those with pre-existing health conditions such as allergies, lung conditions, asthma or emphysema, as well as infants and the elderly are at high risk of such exposure. Anyone who suspect they might have symptoms of mold exposure should contact a physician.

“Mold has been a health issue in many communities that were affected by flooding Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy, and other recent storms,” said Freeholder Chairman Mohamed S. Jalloh, who is also the Borough’s Municipal Land Use (MLUB) Attorney,“If you think mold is in your home, I encourage you to come to one of the workshops.”

The workshops will take place between April and June and are at the following locations, dates, and times:

Date	Day	Municipality	Location	Address	Time
April 8th	Wednesday	Linden	7th Ward Recreation Center	2907 Tremley Point Road	6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
April 9th	Thursday	Elizabeth	Stephen Sampson Center	800 Anna Street	6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
April 18th	Saturday	Plainfield	Family Success Center	209 Berckman Street	10 a.m. - noon
April 23rd	Thursday	Roselle	Borough Hall Court House	210 Chestnut Street	6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
May 11th	Monday	Hillside	Township Courthouse	1409 Liberty Avenue	6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
May 20th	Wednesday	Westfield	Froehlich Building	300 North Avenue East	6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
June 6th	Saturday	Cranford	Community Center	220 Walnut Avenue	10 a.m. - noon

Anyone who pre-registers will receive a free mold mitigation kit and a moisture meter. To register, contact Andrea Navas (Public Health Planner) at the Union County Office of Health Management at (908) 518-5630 or uchealth[@]ucnj.org. Pre-registration is preferred but walk-ins will be accepted on the dates of the seminars.

Workshop attendees will learn how to identify and safely remove mold, according to the County. The presenter will be a health and safety trainer from the New Jersey Work Environment Council and the International Chemical Workers Council for Health.

Anyone seeking more information can visit the Union County web site (link), their official Facebook page (link), or follow their Twitter account (link).