Re: Boston school mold

[Guest guest]

Is the DPH study involve Dr. Harriet Burge of Harvard? If so, she was the Chair of the IOM Mold study by the CDC (see attached CDC letter). I am including my letter to the CDC. I have been told that Dr. Burge has testified in Court cases as a defense witness that Toxic Mold is no big deal. If this is true, she is an expert for the defense and not the insurance companies.

Ken Moulton

October 10, 2002

Dr. Louise Gerberding

Director, Public Health Service

Department of Health & Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Atlanta, GA 30333

Dear Dr. Gerberding;

I received, today, your attached response to my inquires of President Bush concerning the severe health issues of my family, and many other Americans, created by Toxic Mold, specifically Stachybotrys atra. I am saddened to hear that the CDC "does not currently have any ongoing studies of residences or individuals that involve mold".

After reading many Doctors and Medical reports from across the Nation that have discussed the possibility that Stachybotrys atra may have been responsible in the death of Children, I thought that the CDC would have begun a study some years ago. You mention the CDC is "currently developing an agenda for research, service, and education related to molds". While the bureaucracy expands, Americans continue to suffer.

You further mention that the CDC "is funding the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to evaluate the relationship between damp or moldy indoor environments and the manifestation of adverse health effects". Is this the study that is being chaired by Dr. Harriet Burge of Harvard University?

It is my understanding that Dr. Burge has been a witness in court cases in which she has testified that Toxic Mold is no big deal. I understand that she made these types of statements as a defense witness. Are you aware of these possible issues? If these statements are correct would she not have to recuse herself from these studies due to a potential for a conflict of interest?

If this is the study, I contacted them several months ago at the site they said to send correspondence to. I told them of our health conditions from the Toxic Mold in our home. I asked that I be allowed to speak when they have open hearings. I offered our Government our home and our family to use as test subjects of the causes and effects of toxic Mold.

Does it surprise you that this group never bothered to respond to me? How much of our tax dollars are being paid to fund this study? As an American, do I not have the right to present my comments before this forum? As an extension of our Government, they are being paid with tax money, do they not owe me a reply?

Has the CDC discussed the issues of Toxic Mold with Military Doctor's at Ft. Dietrich land? It is my understanding that they have already done clinical research and have determined that Stachybotrys atra is a major health threat to people. Would not the CDC defer to the study of our Nation's Military? Their only interest is to protect American citizens. The do not play politics with the lives of Americans.

I find hope in your statement that "we do know that exposure to high levels of mold may cause some illnesses in susceptible people". Your next statement, "because molds can be harmful to some people, it is important to maintain buildings, prevent water damage and mold growth, and clean up moldy materials" is correct.

If we clean up the Stachybotrys atra but fail to stop the issues, materials or people that have caused it, we are fighting a health battle that cannot be won. Would you not agree?

Yours Truly,

Ken Moulton

38 Hawser Bend

Centerville, MA 02632

[Guest guest]

I got sick in a government building a year and a half ago. I coulsd TELL SOME stories.

Janet

[Guest guest]

Eileen,

Don't give up your fight. Many will thank you for helping them while

they were afraid to speak up over the threats.

What you have described seems to be the norm accross America. More

and more our local, state and federal governments are giving third

party contracts to companies that should be sued for ther

incompetence rather than rewarded.

When the government does a study they usually load it up

with " experts " that have a documented history of being defense

witnesses for insurance companies being sued for exposure to Toxic

Mold. An example is DR Harriet Burge of Harvard. I've been told that

it is Public Court Record in Canada that she testifed that Toxic old

is no big deal. In spite of this the Institute of Medicine, under the

CDC, selected her to Chair their " study " into the effects of Toxic

Mold.

When you select the outcome you want and stack the deck in your favor

you get the exact answer you want. I wrote to the IOM study group

over 18 months ago and submitted Public Records on Toxic Mold. I

asked to testify. I also sent them the Toxic Mold bill I had sent to

Washington. No other bill had been submitted than. I was ignored by

the study group as well as Washington. How many others asked to speak

before the group and were ignored?

This is what angers me that our government is more interested in

protecting those that create or are responsible for our illnesses

from Toxic Mold instead of we citizens. Of course it is these

polluters of ouyr health tha provide the big money for campaighs.

There is a total lack of leadership at all levels of government and

within all political party's on these issues.

Ken Moulton

> Ken and all,

> Wanted to share my experience with government agencies.OSHA is

represented

> by WISHA in Washinton State and is part of the Labor & Industries

Dept. Before

> I finally left my former employment I pleaded with WISHA to inspect

the soggy

> mold ridden locker area of the Operating Room that I worked

in.Because I was

> the only one to complain they would not make a visit only sent a

letter of

> concern.Three months after I left last winter WISHA did come in

only after I

> began to work with one of the Labor Unions involved there. The

Union Rep was like

> a pit bull and would not back off.The hospital CEO sent a letter to

the

> national pres. of this union warning to have her back off. The

locker area was

> cleaned up but only partially(1/3 of the area). Staff was moved to

the other side

> of the shoddy plastic drape.Ceiling tiles were exposed on either

side of this

> " barrier " .

> After this " clean-up " I received a letter from WISHA describing the

work

> done.I was told that there was no further health concerns as the

Stachybotrys was

> behind the lockers thus not in an area accessible for staff to

touch. Everyone

> has been told that they are " safe " .Sounds like the EPA in New York

City after

> 9/11 does it not?

> My claim to L & I was denied as I knew it would be. I finally found a

law firm

> that will take me on but have only spoken to a paralegal who tried

to scare me

> off with the expense of fighting this.Appears that I will incur the

cost of

> having expert witnesses appear. I now await the court date to fight

this denied

> L & I claim for disability. I continue to be treated almost every

other month

> for residual staph infection in my sinuses.

> Hard to believe that OSHA has entrusted the safety of employees to

an agency

> that is trying to limit the amount of claims for disability in my

state.Quite

> a bit of cover-up.

> My dormer co-workers told me that staff was scared off by threats

of having

> the hospital closed down and everyone losing their jobs.What is

more important,

> a bloody job or your life. I opted for improving my health and

found a

> rewarding job elsewhere.Heck of a commute but I love where I work.

> Eileen

[Guest guest]

I agree "Get out" I became disabled from hypersensitivity to mold. I lost my job. But am working at retsoring my health.I however am sick from a federal building and their workmans comp is threatening, sneering and its horrible. I wish you well and God Bless all.

Janet

[Guest guest]

> While the Mass. Public Health folks do a study, kids and

teachers are

> sick. All they have to do is ask Dr. Gerberding, head of the

CDC, about

> the health issues of mold. Read her attached letter to me from last

October.

> The Massachusetts Legislature has had an opportunity for the

past two

> plus years to enact Toxic Mold legislation that I wrote. Sadly,

they don't

> care about the health and safety of Massachusetts citizens and

children. They

> discuss feel good legislation that does nothing!

> I wish there were a recall mechanism in Massachusetts to

recall the

> entire Legislature for failure to do anything to protect us. I

would include the

> Dept. of Public Health, Public Safety and Environmental Protection

in the

> recall.

>

> Ken Moulton

>

Dear Ken,

I am a San Diego City Schools teacher whose health has been damaged

by mold and dirty HVAC systems. I think that the pressure that

parents and teachers can bring on the system to clean it up according

to EPA standards (seen at EPA.gov, " Tools for Schools " ) is important,

despite the absence of laws. Further, you can invite legislators and

parent activists to view the results of mold: poor ability to learn,

health problems, staff turnover due to being ill. The teachers'

union, including state and national, must be prevailed upon. You are

entitled, as a teacher, to a safe and healthy environment, according

to your contract, I imagine. Ill teachers should file for Workman's

Comp, and, as a group, locate a Workman's Comp attorney to represent

them regarding the mold. If the district knew about it and did little

or nothing - or cleaned things up partially, spreading the spores due

to non-EPA standards - then Personal Injury could be filed for. The

parents can file suits as well.

I hate to say it but unless the above is followed, most urban

districts will ignore the problem because it is cheaper to do so.

Once they know you mean business, you are more likely to get help. At

least it will cover your health needs, and those are significant, I

bet.

Many teachers and students are unaware that some very terrible health

problems can result from mold: respiratory, vision, skin, seizures,

neurological, brain damage (memory, etc), depression, sinus,

Parkinson-like disorders, cancer ... some of them are hospitalized

and often severely ill and they still don't know. Start with bringing

up the awareness and forcing action through suits.

In the short run, my advice is don't work where the mold is. It only

gets worse, healthwise, till the immune system becomes overwhelmed.

You have a chance to recover, at least partially, if you are away

from the source of the problem.

I have been exposed at two schools thus far, and the second exposure

was worse - the body really reacts to a danger that it recognizes,

and the immune system becomes hypersensitive to that and more -

chemicals, etc. Then, one becomes very limited in where you can go

and what you can be around. Don't wait till you become permanently

disabled. Get out!

[Guest guest]

You might want to check with your State. They have a Toxic Mold bill

that Brockovich and others helped get passes a few years ago.

I'm not sure what the status is now.I don't remember the California

Senator that helped get it pasd. Maybe somebody in the group does.

The bill was passed in 2001 and was SB732.

Ken

> > While the Mass. Public Health folks do a study, kids and

> teachers are

> > sick. All they have to do is ask Dr. Gerberding, head of

the

> CDC, about

> > the health issues of mold. Read her attached letter to me from

last

> October.

> > The Massachusetts Legislature has had an opportunity for

the

> past two

> > plus years to enact Toxic Mold legislation that I wrote. Sadly,

> they don't

> > care about the health and safety of Massachusetts citizens and

> children. They

> > discuss feel good legislation that does nothing!

> > I wish there were a recall mechanism in Massachusetts to

> recall the

> > entire Legislature for failure to do anything to protect us. I

> would include the

> > Dept. of Public Health, Public Safety and Environmental

Protection

> in the

> > recall.

> >

> > Ken Moulton

> >

> Dear Ken,

>

> I am a San Diego City Schools teacher whose health has been damaged

> by mold and dirty HVAC systems. I think that the pressure that

> parents and teachers can bring on the system to clean it up

according

> to EPA standards (seen at EPA.gov, " Tools for Schools " ) is

important,

> despite the absence of laws. Further, you can invite legislators

and

> parent activists to view the results of mold: poor ability to

learn,

> health problems, staff turnover due to being ill. The teachers'

> union, including state and national, must be prevailed upon. You

are

> entitled, as a teacher, to a safe and healthy environment,

according

> to your contract, I imagine. Ill teachers should file for Workman's

> Comp, and, as a group, locate a Workman's Comp attorney to

represent

> them regarding the mold. If the district knew about it and did

little

> or nothing - or cleaned things up partially, spreading the spores

due

> to non-EPA standards - then Personal Injury could be filed for. The

> parents can file suits as well.

>

> I hate to say it but unless the above is followed, most urban

> districts will ignore the problem because it is cheaper to do so.

> Once they know you mean business, you are more likely to get help.

At

> least it will cover your health needs, and those are significant, I

> bet.

>

> Many teachers and students are unaware that some very terrible

health

> problems can result from mold: respiratory, vision, skin, seizures,

> neurological, brain damage (memory, etc), depression, sinus,

> Parkinson-like disorders, cancer ... some of them are hospitalized

> and often severely ill and they still don't know. Start with

bringing

> up the awareness and forcing action through suits.

>

> In the short run, my advice is don't work where the mold is. It

only

> gets worse, healthwise, till the immune system becomes overwhelmed.

> You have a chance to recover, at least partially, if you are away

> from the source of the problem.

>

> I have been exposed at two schools thus far, and the second

exposure

> was worse - the body really reacts to a danger that it recognizes,

> and the immune system becomes hypersensitive to that and more -

> chemicals, etc. Then, one becomes very limited in where you can go

> and what you can be around. Don't wait till you become permanently

> disabled. Get out!

[Guest guest]

The California Senator's nae was Cheryl Ortiz.

> > > While the Mass. Public Health folks do a study, kids

and

> > teachers are

> > > sick. All they have to do is ask Dr. Gerberding, head of

> the

> > CDC, about

> > > the health issues of mold. Read her attached letter to me from

> last

> > October.

> > > The Massachusetts Legislature has had an opportunity for

> the

> > past two

> > > plus years to enact Toxic Mold legislation that I wrote. Sadly,

> > they don't

> > > care about the health and safety of Massachusetts citizens and

> > children. They

> > > discuss feel good legislation that does nothing!

> > > I wish there were a recall mechanism in Massachusetts to

> > recall the

> > > entire Legislature for failure to do anything to protect us. I

> > would include the

> > > Dept. of Public Health, Public Safety and Environmental

> Protection

> > in the

> > > recall.

> > >

> > > Ken Moulton

> > >

> > Dear Ken,

> >

> > I am a San Diego City Schools teacher whose health has been

damaged

> > by mold and dirty HVAC systems. I think that the pressure that

> > parents and teachers can bring on the system to clean it up

> according

> > to EPA standards (seen at EPA.gov, " Tools for Schools " ) is

> important,

> > despite the absence of laws. Further, you can invite legislators

> and

> > parent activists to view the results of mold: poor ability to

> learn,

> > health problems, staff turnover due to being ill. The teachers'

> > union, including state and national, must be prevailed upon. You

> are

> > entitled, as a teacher, to a safe and healthy environment,

> according

> > to your contract, I imagine. Ill teachers should file for

Workman's

> > Comp, and, as a group, locate a Workman's Comp attorney to

> represent

> > them regarding the mold. If the district knew about it and did

> little

> > or nothing - or cleaned things up partially, spreading the spores

> due

> > to non-EPA standards - then Personal Injury could be filed for.

The

> > parents can file suits as well.

> >

> > I hate to say it but unless the above is followed, most urban

> > districts will ignore the problem because it is cheaper to do so.

> > Once they know you mean business, you are more likely to get

help.

> At

> > least it will cover your health needs, and those are significant,

I

> > bet.

> >

> > Many teachers and students are unaware that some very terrible

> health

> > problems can result from mold: respiratory, vision, skin,

seizures,

> > neurological, brain damage (memory, etc), depression, sinus,

> > Parkinson-like disorders, cancer ... some of them are

hospitalized

> > and often severely ill and they still don't know. Start with

> bringing

> > up the awareness and forcing action through suits.

> >

> > In the short run, my advice is don't work where the mold is. It

> only

> > gets worse, healthwise, till the immune system becomes

overwhelmed.

> > You have a chance to recover, at least partially, if you are away

> > from the source of the problem.

> >

> > I have been exposed at two schools thus far, and the second

> exposure

> > was worse - the body really reacts to a danger that it

recognizes,

> > and the immune system becomes hypersensitive to that and more -

> > chemicals, etc. Then, one becomes very limited in where you can

go

> > and what you can be around. Don't wait till you become

permanently

> > disabled. Get out!