Industrial hygienist: most indoor air samples normal; localized surface growth tied to condensation

At the South River Board meeting, Dr. Lynch — a certified industrial hygienist the district engaged after initial testing — presented his on‑site sampling and preliminary lab results. He said outdoor airborne mold concentrations ranged broadly but that indoor samples from many classrooms were a fraction of outdoor counts.

Dr. Lynch told the board that where he found mold growth it was localized to surfaces in rooms that had been unusually cold after the power outage damaged HVAC controls. He explained the mechanism: cooling air below the dew point causes condensation on surfaces that, if dust is present, can support localized mold growth. "You don't have elevated airborne levels of mold," he said when reviewing the lab numbers, but added that surface reservoirs in a handful of rooms should be cleaned professionally to avoid disturbing settled spores into the air.

His recommendations included prioritized surface cleaning (desks, chairs, cabinets), professional cleaning and sanitization of affected HVAC components and a follow‑up testing plan. He also advised HEPA‑filtered air scrubbing during cleaning and limiting access to larger spaces like the gym until a remediation plan is in place.