I recently started beauty college.  I have never had a problem with chemicals in the past, however since starting school   I have been sick all the time.  It started with a sinus infection and then a cough and I can't seem to get over it.  The others who started school at the same time are having the same symptoms.  The school is in older building and has poor ventilation.  It also has cockroaches and a laundry room that is infested with mold.  I am wondering if this mold can be the culprit and if so can it be very harmful.  I have heard molds can make you very sick.  Please provide any advice you have. -Kareana, Washington 

            The building in which you attend beauty college has a number of problems which can be contributing to the health problems you and other students are having.  Let's examine these one by one. 

            You report symptoms/health problems characterized by sinus infection and  persistent cough.  Such symptoms suggest exposure to some type of biological agent.  You indicate that the building is infested with mold and cockroaches.  Exposure to mold spores can in fact cause sinus infections and coughing symptoms that you are experiencing.  Exposure to cockroach allergens can also cause allergy-type symptoms with cough.  However, it is less likely that exposure to cockroach allergens would result in sinus infections than exposure to mold. 

            Any beauty salon that uses significant quantities of aerosol sprays should be ventilated with a local exhaust hood.  Not to want to cause alarm, however, exposure to chemicals in the form of aerosol mists is an occupational hazard among beauticians.  Several epidemiological studies have shown that over decades of exposures to aerosol sprays beauticians as a population tend to develop lesions on their lungs and appear to be at higher risk of developing several different types of cancer. Such exposure risks can be reduced by installing an overhead exhaust system (much like a bath exhaust) in beauty salons and having them turned on whenever aerosol sprays are to be used. 

            Given the nature of your building and symptoms, etc. it is more probable than not that exposure to elevated mold spores is likely to be the major factor contributing to your health problems.  Getting something done about it is the difficult part.   Based on your description of the building, the owner/manager appears to be indifferent to the building's condition.  As such, it is not likely that complaints or requests to do something about the problem will receive a positive response.  Nevertheless, complain you must (a collective complaint is best).  If there is no positive response, you either have to "tough it out" or find another beauty school.