Commissioners search for illness-inducer

STAFF REPORT

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — About 30 employees of the Lawrence County adult and juvenile probation departments have temporary quarters while commissioners try to cure a case of sick-building syndrome.

The county has moved those two departments to the bottom floor of the county government center while their building across the parking lot is checked to find out why employees there are coming down with rashes and are having trouble breathing.

Commissioner Steve Craig said Tuesday an air and surface sampling has been done in the building, and tests have come back indicating mold and mildew there are within acceptable parameters.

He said commissioners want more details about those results, however.

Craig said questions remain about whether there is enough fresh air getting into the departments’ offices and whether unvented Xerox machines might be the culprit.

He said toxins from bug spray used routinely by exterminators also might play a role.

Unaffected is the domestic relations department on the building’s upstairs level. “But they have windows,” Craig added.