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Air Quality Issues Expanding At Broward Courthouse

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FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) -- Air quality issues within Broward County's old courthouse may be expanding.

50 additional workers in the East Wing of the building that was built in the 1990's say they are developing rashes and breathing problems. That is on top of the 150 workers with the State Attorney's office who asked to be moved two weeks ago.

The original courthouse built in the early 1960's has been plagued with flooding and mold issues for years.

But it is only now that workers in the newer section say they are getting ill.

The county is building a new courthouse but it has been delayed from opening, ironically, because of new flooding and mold issues.

Alfreda Deanwho recently moved to the East wing of the old courthouse, is wearing a surgical mask to shield herself from what she believes is contaminated air.

"I feel frustrated because nothing is being resolved," she says.

Two dozen prosecutors from the sex crimes unit were forced to move across the street into the 110 tower and double up with other workers because of air quality issues.

Assistant State Attorney Neva Rainford Smith, who's in charge of the unit, says not only is space an issue but privacy is a big problem because they are in cubicles and not regular offices.

"The things we talk about as sex crimes prosecutors is not the normal topic," she says. "It's intolerable but we're making the best of the situation."

The county says they are working to move a few courthouse employees into the brand new courthouse by Christmas.

They are also working on finding more temporary office space for courthouse employees who say the building is making them sick.

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