Research Paper on:
California and 'Sick Building Syndrome'

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
large buildings. They realize that when they are shut into large structures with no windows, germs may fester. People seem to get sick often. In a building that has poor  ventilation, or when one is in an airtight building, the chances are greater that one is at risk for illness ("Sick buildings" PG). In this respect, law suits are on  the rise as the trend is related to indoor pollution victims who have sued a large number of parties, inclusive of owners, architects, and ventilation contractors (Rice 86). There are  many examples of this. The actual Erin Brockovich had been driven out of her California home when mold was discovered and of course, this woman who is well known for  fighting the system, sued the builder (Shah 1). In Santa Clara County, California, the courthouse in San Martin had to be shut down because of mold, and the  state sued the general contractor, architect and others due to alleged building deficiencies, which was a case that was settle to the tune of $12 million (Armour PG). Although some  might think that people are overreacting, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has in fact warned that mold growth can weaken floors and walls, something that could indeed cause structural  damage ("Beyond" PG). If this happens to schools and office buildings, claims could also include things related to personal injury and property damage (PG). Just how significant is the problem  and what is this toxic mold exactly? There are several types of molds which are found in both indoor and outdoor environments (Sandler PG). Different species of mold include Penicillium,  Cladosporium, Stachybotrys and Aspergillus (PG). Another microbiologic called Legionella pneumophila, had been first identified as what caused the frightening Legionnaires disease in 1976 (PG). While that disease seemed to