By Daniel Opasinis
An environmental consulting company found mould growth in a Pitman Hall residence room earlier this month, although the air quality was not considered to be degraded.
The discovery was confirmed according to an email sent by Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Housing & Residence Life obtained by The Eyeopener. Multiple students claim they noticed mould as early as August 2024.
A first-year fashion student* said multiple residents on various floors are experiencing the effects of mould exposure. They are currently being treated for those symptoms.
The student reached out to Facilities Management and Development and Housing & Residence Life at TMU to address their concerns for the mould in the building earlier this month.
While waiting for a response, the student decided to order a mould testing kit online.
“We ordered this test kit and I put it right in front of my air conditioning…and then within 48 hours, there were already three or four mould colonies present,” they said.
The third-party company was sent by Housing & Residence Life to inspect the rooms throughout Pitman Hall on Oct. 10, according to the email.
The student received another email on Oct. 15 that reads, “results of surface sampling for the fan coil unit did indicate the presence of mould growth with the recommendation for the area to be cleaned with an antimicrobial disinfectant.”
According to the email, all rooms containing mould were cleaned on Oct. 16. Students were given rooms in the International Living/Learning Centre residence that same night and could return to their rooms on Oct. 17.
Tess Roorda, a first-year psychology student, said she first noticed mould in her curtains shortly after moving in at the end of August.
“A lot of people were getting really sick and having respiratory issues and skin stuff,” she said.
Roorda said she doesn’t get sick easily and never had sensitive skin so she “had a feeling” it was mould.
TMU President Mohamed Lachemi reassured the university’s commitment to student safety in a phone interview with The Eye. “The health, safety, and well-being of our students, visitors, and staff is the top priority for the university,” Lachemi said.
Lachemi explained how the university dealt with the claim of possible mould on the curtains. “We immediately scheduled an external company to conduct testing. …samples of the curtains showed the debris was not mould…the curtains are scheduled for cleaning.”
He also addressed the discovery of the mould growth in a unit and explained that the there was an immediate cleaning of the unit with anti-microbial disinfectant and there was also air quality testing being conducted in Pitman Hall.
He added that the university has a mould-preventative program in place. “This includes semi-annual cleaning of heating and air conditioning units…pre-occupancy testing was completed in Pitman Hall before the semester began, and all air quality standards were met.”
The Eye reached out to Facilities Management but the university said there were no further comments.
*This source was granted anonymity to protect their identity and has been verified by The Eye.
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