Re: Mold: County homeowners, ranchers watch out

[Guest guest]

Nice article alerting their readers about mold. Not a word about

structual high himidity causing the problem. So we don't have to

worry losing bussiness.

> http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?

newsid=6356824 & BRD=1212 & PAG=461 & dept_id=4

> 45643 & rfi=6

>

> December 11, 2002

>

> Mold: County homeowners, ranchers watch out

> By Angle, Times-Review Writer

>

> Courtesy photo

>

> It might look like mums, but it's not. It's mold and it's giving

some

> residents fits. If you live in County, you've got mold.

>

> But, mold doesn't just plague the homes and people of

County. Mold

> lives on every kitchen table, bathroom sink, and office desk in

every town,

> city and country across the world.

>

> Mold is nothing new; it has been here forever, said Dr. Chip Lee,

professor

> and extension plant pathologist at Tarleton State University in

> ville. Lee works to educate district eight, which includes

> County, on plant pathology and mold prevention.

>

> But, not until lately, have the ill effects of mold come into

public light.

> Countless insurance claims and allergies have recently been

attributed to

> this archaic fungus.

>

> " All molds are allergens, and certain molds produce toxins, " Lee

said.

>

> He said be cautious, aware and ready to clean up the problem if it

exist.

>

> Lee said he's seen people spend from a few thousand dollars up to

$115,000

> trying to clean up mold damage in a small three bedroom house.

>

> " Sometimes it's just cheaper to bulldoze the old house and start

over, " he

> said.

>

> Ten percent of lumber purchased in the United States each year goes

to

> repairing rotted boards in houses, said Dr. Charlie Biles,

mycologist/plant

> pathologist professor at East Central University in Oklahoma, who

also runs

> Ada Biolab Consultants.

>

> " I inspected a house last week who's floor was completely rotted

out with

> mold, " Biles said.

>

> Brown rot and white rot molds grow in wood, weakening wooden floors

and,

> " making them pretty dangerous, " Biles said.

>

> Mold is moisture related Lee said, and roof leaks are a primary way

that

> water gets into a building. A home's hot water heater presents a

chronic

> leak.

>

> " The question is not if a water heater will leak but when it will

leak, " Lee

> said.

>

> Condensation from air conditioning systems poses another mold

threat. To

> avoid this problem, air conditioning filters should be replaced

monthly to

> prevent algae build-up in the drain.

>

> " Mold is more common in older homes, " Lee said, due to older

plumbing and

> more leaks. Because the health of a rancher's livestock plays a key

role in

> his or her economic success, the condition of livestock feed and

grain

> should be closely monitored.

>

> Biles said that the possible contamination of grain and cattle feed

is a

> potential problem that sometimes goes unchecked. Cattle or other

mammals

> that consume livestock feed infected with fungi-producing

mycotoxins, a

> naturally occurring fungal toxin, experience a varying array of

harmful

> effects including: digestive disorders, hemorrhage, edema (oral

lesions and

> blood disorders), estrogenic effects, atrophy (enlargement of the

testicles

> and ovaries), and abortion.

>

> Mycotoxicoses of animals effect livestock health and reproduction,

which, if

> unchecked, can lead to economic loss for the rancher. Cattle are

not the

> only mammals affected by mycotoxic livestock feed, swine, chicken,

turkey,

> horses, and lamb also exhibit these pathological effects.

>

> Mycotoxic molds that effect feed and grain are usually pinkish or

green in

> color Biles said. The longer the grain is stored, the more moisture

> accumulates, therefore making the grain more susceptible to mold.

>

> When it comes to health, some people are very susceptible to mold

spores

> while others go unaffected Biles said. Allergic reactions such as

watery

> eyes, runny nose, chronic respiratory problems and bronchitis are

all

> symptoms that could be related to a mold problem in your home or

office.

> Some groups of people are more likely to be affected by mold than

others

> Biles said, children and the elderly are two groups who are more at

risk.

> People with lowered immune systems, such as AIDS patients and people

> recovering from surgeries, are also extra sensitive to toxic mold

problems.

>

> As the cost to repair homes damaged by mold sky rockets, " most

insurance

> policies exclude it " , said one agent at A Grandview Insurance

Agency who

> wished to remain anonymous. No company covers it all, she said,

they either

> limit it or exclude it entirely.

>

> When the Times-Review called Farmers Insurance Group of Burleson,

> representatives said to call the Bedford District Office.

>

> According to Farmer's representative , who refused to give her

last

> name, their insurance company stopped covering mold damage about

this time

> last year.

>

> " We changed out policies, " said.

>

> Allstate Insurance representative Schmitt said that they

provide a

> limited coverage for mold, and it varies depending on the company.

>

> According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the territory that

the

> majority of County falls into paid an average of $30,789

per claim

> between 2000 and 2001. The Texas statewide average was $34,096.

>

> Detecting the presence of mold before it's too late is one way to

protect

> your house, livestock, health and pocketbooks. Biles, who inspects

homes,

> livestock feed, and office buildings for mold said that the average

fee that

> most companies charge for inspection ranges from $50 to $100 an hour

> depending on the company or consultant.

>

> To actually ID a mold sample could cost an additional $30 to $100.

Biles,

> who's company services North Texas and Oklahoma said, " A lot of

companies

> will take advantage of people, so you have to be careful. "

>

> If you do need to get an inspection, a person that actually comes

into the

> home or office is going to be a lot more beneficial than just

sending off a

> petri dish sample through the mail. If you have further questions

concerning

> mold or believe that you may need an inspection, Ada Biolab

Consultants can

> be reached at 580-310-5498.

>

> " People need to use common sense, " when it comes to mold, Biles

said.

>

> Not all air quality problems are caused by mold but it is a problem

that has

> been overlooked in the past.

>

> Angle can be reached at 817-645-2441 or sangle@t...

>

> ©The Cleburne Times-Review 2002