Re: possible sick building

[Guest guest]

Yes Virginia , there is a mold problem. Here is my story.

Janet

Dear Senaror Snowe,

    I repeatedly ask for help as one of you constituents. May I ask why no

response?

Do I just figure there is no help out there in my state senators and my

congressmen?

Thank you for your time,

Janet s

25 Farmgat Drive

South Berwick, Me. 03908

207 384 2810

-----------------

Forwarded Message:

Subj: Janet s Need Help With Toxic Mold at The Portsmouth Naval

Shipyard 

Date: 7/31/04 2:37:10 PM Eastern Daylight Time

From: Gingersnap1964

Olympia@..., _Morin@...

CC: .Conyers@...

BCC: suzanne.risley@...., wmtw@..., president@...,

sidandrachelstevens@..., GraceAngel123, dandjmaglaras@...,

inquiry@..., jpeak@..., letter@...,

mhait@..., newscenter@..., tv7news@...,

madeskv@...

Right-click picture(s) to display picture options

Dear Honorable Senator Snowe and Mr. Morin,

     This is Janet s. I am sure you remember me from being sick from

toxic mold at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in NH. I have written but received

no responses.

      Here is my question. I filed a complaint to the Naval Legal Office

where I was directed by the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon. This is a

claim you can make against damage, injury or death to the Navy. I was denied. I

am looking for help. Can you help me with this? I am also fighting an EEO

case with the Shipyard. I have asked for help from the beginning and none forth

coming.

      Please help.

Janet s

25 Farmgate Drive

South Berwick Me.

03908

207 384 2810

Gingersnap1964@...

Heres a reminder with before and after pictures.

THE BRAC MISSION

Close and realign all BRAC installations and transfer property as quickly,

cheaply and safely as possible.

Dear Sirs,

  I am very afraid that my position and circumstance from the Portsmouth

Naval Shipyard, is due to a BRAC Commision coming up.

    I am severely ill from a toxic moldy wet basement there. They hid an

Environmental Report that was done a year before until I became ill. A year

before

I hadnt reached the high point of my illness..

     I cannot smell mold in rain and wet dirt, many buildings and have to

wear a 3M mask. Or I get asthma attacks I have never had in my life. Basixcally

I

am home bound with hepa filter air cleaners.

    Now the Shipyard. They only offered me stay out on admin leave as LONG as

you promise to file for disability. 40% of my pay. I am a single mother. They

say they accomodated me. One place I left in an ambukance and the last place

was moldy and chemical smells as well. I have asked to work at home. I hear 21

buildings are now closed and more offices condemned. I was denied for

telework.

     They are hiding me and people I hear from say they are told not to speak

out. The Commander or underlings want this hidded. I am so mad. I worked there

for 16 years, bosses have lied and covered up, as well as HRO and sent lies

to senators and OWCP that are lies. I have all these. I chop them up and send

them back.

     I do not want my horrid illness that has left me no life to be covered.

I want the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to be responsible for what they have done

to me.I was told they are scared of you, and thats why they are hiding all

this.I want all to know what really goes on there. There is more but would take

up too much room. I will send a couple things below.

Thank you if you took the time to read this.

Sincerely,

Janet A. s

Subj: Very Ill from Toxic Mold in a Government Building and They are hiding

it

Date: 7/4/03 4:10:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time

From: Gingersnap1964

Gingersnap1964

I have become very hypersensitive to mold due to years of working in a wet

100 year old moldy basement. First I should say this a a government building on

the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth ,NH.

  My whole life is gone. I live as a prisoner with air cleaners, I now have

asthma and do not last long outside without a three m mask,and I have NEVER had

asthma in my life, live on inhalers, plants, and wet dirt are molds and cause

asthma attack. I have been fighting this for over a year. I had a lawyer who

decided he couldnt make it personal injury, only workmens Comp. OWCP has sent

me to moldy clinics to be skin tested. As a result, I cannot drive as muscles

are damaged in my legs. They have threatened me, called me a liar and said

mold probably came last season.I am also now MCS. I cant stand cooking odors,

fragrances, gardens,tar, exhaust fumes from cars.....there isnt much left. I

have

also sent my immune system out of whack. I am being introduced one food at a

time by a dietician to help.

   The Shipyard has had me out on paid administrative leave as long as I file

retirement disability and go away. I have asked to work at home as I am a

Technical Information Specialist with Secret Clearance, but they refused. I have

been lied to, bosses have covered up....I have submitted paperwork to the

Office of Special Cousel for abuse of authority and hiding a public health

danger.

   I go from doctor to doctor. I have to clean all the time. Rainy weather

puts me in a safe room with air cleaners. I am only 39 years old with a child

that just graduated. I have been on rounds of steroids, cannot go into most

buildings as the old buildings have a mold smell that will cause asthma and set

me

back for weeks. If I get this retirement, it is only 40 percent of my pay. I

am also on anti depression medicine and am seeing a pschychiatrist as well as

a counselor.

They HID an Environmental report that stated the dangers untill I got sick. I

have all papers, documents, letters that are lies to senators of my state

that I chop up and fax back to the senators. Mostly Senator Olympia Snowe. No

one

wants to help. I lost my whole life, and need to move but cant  find a

building I can breathe in. I want a civil suit and money to build a home I can

live

in and to go to experts in this field that I cannot afford right now.I also

have pictures of mold four feet up the walls.There is more. I would run out of

room.

  Can you help me with this?

Thank you for your time,

Janet s

Dear Senators and employees,

           Today I received a shut off letter from Jerry , Claims

Examiner from the United States Department of Labor.

          They say I failed to attend two visits. Well, one I was in the ER

trying to calm down an asthma attack from the moldy rainy weather and the other

I sent three letters from different people to attest that I AND my daughter

had the flu.

          They state I obstructed. Mr., Morin, I do not care what you say,

but I couldn't be skin tested. Dan and I told you and I had THREE doctors

letters saying how detrimental to my health it could be. I did not obstruct. I

didn't want to end up paralyzed or possibly death. We know more of my medical

condition then any of you do.

          I have hired an attorney and now I have to pay 1000.00 for his

services for a hearing that I don't have.

          I have to say, I cannot believe this situation has been allowed to

go this far and puts my health in jeopardy closed off by Workmen's Comp or

not. I vote for you people. I work for the government. Why? Could you please

tell

me why I have to work so hard and endanger my health when the evidence is all

there and respirator quails are needed for this hellhole now?  What a way to

send off my daughter to college.

               Anyway, my faith in justice and the " system " has been tried

and failed. It should have NEVER been allowed to continue and I should be seeing

specialists like out in New York that I cantnot afford.

        I would like an answer to why. We are all human here, or at least  I

would like to think so.

             I have never been so depressed and such a prisoner of my own

body. It is horrid and I hope someday none of you face something like this.

         Thank you for listening.

          Janet s

Subj: basement and before and after at Andover pics

Date: 6/9/03 12:26:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time

From: Gingersnap1964

Gingersnap1964

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

THIS picture is BEFORE mold illness. About two years ago. Big difference.

I wanted to make this human and not just words.

I was in there an hour and came out looking like this trying to breathe after

using rescue inhaler from this mold infested exam room and building

aw2C@netsc RE: Janet KCaw2C@netsc RE: Janet  KCs.eml Fw: Janet s Mail

3K

And here I put the mask back on as car fumes were affecting my breathing as

well now that my immune system is screwed up from years of mold, erupting and

now am multiple chemical sensitive. Like I wrote. I cant even handle cooking

odors.

aw2C@netsc RE: Janet KCaw2C@netsc RE: Janet  KCs.eml Fw: Janet s Mail

3K

There was my fun day at the Concentration Camp that OWCP and Jerry

FORCED me to go to and NO ONE HELPED STOP IT!!!

Thank you everyone...

My beautifull daughter just grraduated with Honors. I had to brag!

RE: JANET STEVENS EEO COMPLAINT

Declaration of Larry Randal Boyd

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, GS-802-11

    My name is Larry Randal Boyd and I am employed at Portsmouth Naval

Shipyard as an Engineering Technician.  I have been employed here since

September 1979.  Additionally, I am presently a Chief Steward of Local 4 of

the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers

(IFPTE), a Union in which Janet s was a member until her retirement

under disability.  I became a Steward of IFPTE in April 2002 and was

assigned in May of 2002 to represent Janet s.  Previous to my

assignment, Janet had been in contact with Mike , the 2nd Vice

President to the organization.  Though I had known Janet for many years, she

first asked for help from me regarding her health concerns when we were both

located on the third floor of building 86A.  When I saw her on the third

floor she explained she had been moved to that location (just outside the

wall of the Tom Devaney's, her Division Head, office) because she was having

medical problems at her old location on the first floor of building 86.  She

explained that Tom Devaney was trying to find a location where the

environment did not negatively affect her.  She further explained that this

third floor location was also causing her health problems and that she

desired to move again.  Several contacts were made to Mr. Devaney, and

without the knowledge of the Union, he moved Janet to Building 18.  Building

18 was another space controlled by this Division Head.  Shortly after Janet

was transferred, a portion of Mr. Devaney's wall in his office and another

section of lower wall farther down the building and on the same side of the

building from Mr. Devaney was also removed.  Both areas were replaced with

all new material and painted.

    The Building 18 space provided for Janet was supposed to have a

re-circulating air system.  It was never dependable and most times when I

met with Janet there, the system was not working, and the air was hot and

humid.  Water was always visible in the working areas and near the ladies

room, which was separate from the confines of the workspace.

    I requested to be relieved as Janet's representative in the fall of

2002.  All my files were transferred to another Union representative.  I had

delivered a CD containing a lot of correspondence with Janet to her good

friend Dan Maglaras.  The CD contained several hundred electronic

transmissions, including communications with others involved in the problem.

I did not lose sight of the mold problem, however, as our Union was a member

to a Shipyard Committee selected to combat the problem Shipyard-wide.  Many

people from many buildings were reporting problems.

    Following are events which I consider significant in Janet's claim,

and in which I was directly involved.

    Mr. Tom Devaney, Janet's 2nd line supervisor (titled a Safety

Engineer) and the Code 280 Division Head, was responsible for having Janet

moved from the 1st floor of building 86 to the third floor of building 86A

(outside his office).  He then directed Janet to be relocated to building

18.  Finally he had Janet relocated to building 29.  All of these locations

were areas he controlled as the Division Head and the building manager for

the Engineering and Planning Department.  Mr. Devaney finally began to

search for a permanent solution to the problem of Janet's adaptation to her

environment.  Mr. Devaney, Bob Short (HRO Worker's Compensation expert).

Mari Shults (Janet's 1st Line Supervisor), and I met to discuss strategies

to make Janet a productive worker again.  Ms. Shults had done some research

on a program called " Teleworking. "   This program was based in Federal Law

and was supposed to be applicable to Department of Defense employees.  Bob

Short claimed no such program existed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  Ms.

Shults told some details about the program and said she could restructure

Janet's work (eliminating Confidential requirements from her tasks) and she

would be able to work full time from another location, possibly her own

home.  The only drawback seemed to be the expense of attaching her to the

Shipyard computer system, which was said to cost approximately $5000.  Mr.

Short was to research the " Teleworking " adaptability at the Shipyard and

advise Mr. Devaney.  Much time passed and when I could not get a

satisfactory response from any of the attendees and having read the guidance

from the Department of Defense, I filed an " Unfair Labor Practice " against

the Shipyard via the Fair Labor Relations Board in order to have a policy

instituted at the Shipyard.  The labor practice complaint was denied at the

Board on the grounds that NAVSEA had not directed implementation of the law

at Portsmouth specifically.  Therefore, my documents were not completed

against the proper organization; NAVSEA should have been named.  A

re-submittal was not done.  It should be stated that all those whom I

engaged in conversation regarding " Telework " were opposed to creating a

policy, as it would appear too hard to manage.  When I first contacted HRO

about the policy, I was told they were creating a listing of specific job

assignments where the employees would be eligible for " Telework. "   They then

intended to create the policy based on duties and responsibilities of work,

which could be accomplished away from the facility.  This, too, never

materialized.

    I attended a meeting around this same time in Captain McCoy's

(Shipyard Commander) conference room to discuss the identification of mold

problems on the Yard and to develope solutions for fixing the problems.  The

discussion centered on the seriousness of the problem in the adjoining

buildings 86 and 86A.  Captain McCoy stated that if any employee in these

buildings felt ill or were even nervous about their environment, he would

relocate them to another area.  He said any employee was eligible to be

moved.  He asked for a team of Shipyard employees to be formed to address

problems as they arose and to research a fix to the problem.  He called on

Dr. Clements of the Naval Regional Clinic who attended this meeting to

provide expertise on this health risk.  Dr. Clements advised that he didn't

feel it was serious and that people should use soap, water, and elbow

grease, like he did, to remove the mold from surfaces.  Chuck Vaughan,

temporarily assigned to the Safety Office, gave a short presentation on the

locations where mold was found.  As I remember some of the attendees to the

meeting were Terry Eleftherion (President IFPTE), Arvard Worster (President,

AFGE), Merrill (Head Safety Office), a representative of Facilities and

Maintenance, the previously named, myself and a few others.  The Commander

identified Chuck Vaughan as the lead person in efforts to eliminate the

problem.

    I continued to assist Janet, seeing her almost daily.  I attended a

meeting in building 59 (later remediated for mold) in early summer attended

by Tracey ?????, Bob Short, (IFPTE 2nd Vice President) and

myself.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the method for submitting

a worker's compensation claim for Janet.  Bob Short reviewed the conditions

leading to Janet's request for relocation help and checked some facts from

her medical treatment up to that time.  Mr. Short requested documentation

from Janet's doctors(s) and wanted copies of her leave requests.  Mr. Short

explained he was intending to author a cover letter to the claim relating

her relocation to various buildings/areas.

    The four of us (excluding ) had a follow-up meeting

weeks later in building 18.  Janet and I had already been provided a " draft "

of Mr. Short's cover letter, as was agreed during our first meeting.  The

strong memories I have of the cover letter were the words " Portsmouth has

been proactive " in relocating Janet to an accommodating area.  Janet had

already been taken by ambulance from building 18 to a local hospital and

treated for respiratory difficulties.  Janet and I strenuously objected to

the cover letter wording and asked if we could  author a different one.  Mr.

Short said if we persisted he would withdraw from handling the claim and

Janet would be on her own to handle the claim.  Neither Janet, nor I were in

a position to take the claim by ourselves since we knew none of the rules

and regulations involved in filing the documents.  Janet was by this time

wearing a face mask full time while at the Shipyard.  She was also missing a

lot of work and did not want to risk any error we might make in correctly

filing the claim.

    Later in the summer Janet was transferred to work on the second

floor of building 29.  Several Hepa filters were in place in her new

workspace.  Berg, a Code 280 computer specialist was the only other

person assigned to work in this area.  He was often out on calls and Janet

was left alone.  Janet had to go entirely out of the filtered air of her

space to run required Xerox copies and to go to the ladies room.  Her

workspace was monitored at times, but outside wasn't until she had departed

the Shipyard for good.  She almost never saw any of her supervision while in

building 29 and was not given much to do there.  She appeared to be a test

case or maybe more properly stated a guinea pig for how to maintain a person

with possible mold allergies.

    The worker's compensation dilemma continued, as she was required to

see an " outside " doctor in Andover, Ma.  After being skin tested for various

mold strains, she reported she was deathly ill from the effects of testing.

Later during the decision-making, worker's comp wanted her to test again

with the same doctor, but she was too frightened to see this person again.

She was not recommended to any alternate doctor.

    Once I had turned over all files to other representatives in the

Union I was asked my opinion on what could be done by the Shipyard in

Janet's situation.  I recommended the Shipyard place her in an

administrative leave status until a more permanent solution could be

decided; the Shipyard Commander adopted this temporary fix for leave.  An

entire year went by without any person or organization permanently fixing

the problem of Janet.  For sure mold was getting attention and being

remediated building to building.  I was the first to call Rafferty

in Philadelphia to get help on standards to clean up the mess and to have

his company come here to monitor the clean up.  But Janet had gone much to

far - she was calling names of higher ups, right to Senatorial offices.

Many liars along the way were covering up as if they would be held

criminally responsible for this environmental blight.

The safety folks were the worst of all.  They were told of these mold

problems long before Janet became ill.  The worst area for a long time was

designated as the smokers' area.  There were maybe twenty regular smokers

who went there in winter and in bad weather.  Before the space was finally

closed, several people smoked outside the mold area, in the hallway rather

than be exposed.  Safety personnel would appear and look at the area and

then leave again with no action taken.  They spent years ignoring the water

seeping into the rooms of the basement.  They spent years looking the other

way while the mold ate its way up the walls.  They spent years ignoring the

rushing foul air from vaults of material where employees were sent to

retrieve documents.  But there's blame for many, especially those who had

the responsibility to be accountable for the environmental conditions

endured by workers.  People named in this statement and many others are

frightened for their jobs, and they would certainly sacrifice Janet to

maintain their livelihood.

    Why was Portsmouth Naval Shipyard allowed to ignore a lawful

telework policy?  Why doesn't Portsmouth have an EEO accommodation policy in

accordance with Federal law?  Why has Janet been allowed to suffer so much

for so long for these inept leaders?  Why has not one single human being

been able to walk in Janet's shoes?  Does anyone actually think they would

have been treated differently than Janet?  Shhhh, Portsmouth is in hiding.

[Guest guest]

Yes Virginia there is ... a mold problem.

Good thing you are taking charge yourself. I didnt do so in time.

My story is attached.

Keep following what you know is the truth.

-----Original Message-----

From: Virginia Killeen [mailto:ginnysue9@...]

Sent: Mon 9/6/2004 10:54 PM

Cc:

Subject: [] possible sick building

I am a new member. I have been having medical problems for the last

3 or 4 years. I was working in a room with no outside air for 7

years. I developed severe breathing problems and many medical tests

came back respiratory alkalosis and acid base imbalance in my

bloodwork. I told the drs. about my working condition but they

ignored it. The final specialist, the chief of pulmonology at our

teaching hospital, told me to take a course in yoga and find a

psychiatrist that does biofeedback. I researched the internet and

figured out it out for myself and asked to be moved to a different

office that had an airconditioner in a window. I told them I thought

the air quality was making me ill. I did feel better for a while.

Now the breathing problems are returning and my dr. sent me to an

allergist because of a sore throat for the last several months. My

sinuses keep running in spite of medication. My allergist did do

bloodwork which I will find out about in 2 weeks. The building is an

old theater built in 1928, now a performing arts theater. I don't

want to ask them to do an air quality test, because apparently I am

the only one with problems. However, every person in my old office

is a smoker (not in the office) but their symptoms if they had them

could come from smoking. I also have fibromyalgia and RA. Any

comments would be helpful, especially someone who has had these

symptoms. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Ok. It doesnt take attachments...so here. is my story...

Liberty Middle School Librarian: Page

http://libertyk12.org/library/ms_library/default.htm

<http://libertyk12.org/library/ms_library/default.htm>

In 1991 after working since 1983 in the Liberty School District’s Elementary

Library as their librarian,

I moved up to the new Middle School Library. I worked at this position until

June 24th 2004. I can no longer work there.

When the building opened, there were active leaks in the library ceiling.

Contractors hung several spackle buckets

under the leaks and over the ceiling tiles. Many areas of the school had leakage

problems and the school has remained wet.

The school was built on an aquifer and into the side of a hill. Some areas have

sunk. Some portions of the walls have separated

from the hallways.

It was not uncommon for me to find that ceiling tiles, heavy with rain or melted

snow, had fallen overnight onto the library rug.

After years of replacing tiles, custodians hung a roof-sized tarp above the

books under the strip lights and removed all the tiles

where the leaking persisted. The tarp funneled the rain into a garbage can,

which I would empty. Administration said they would

solve the problem, however, leaks persisted.

While working at the school I developed a dry cough. By 2001 and 2002 I was

feeling disorientated at times and began to feel

tingling in my extremities, especially my legs. In the summer of 2002 (I’m the

county’s summer school librarian) my legs gave way

and I fell to the floor in dizziness. The nurse said I had barely a pulse and

suggested seeing a doctor. I did see Dr. Weiss who

found nothing outstanding to explain this. He suggested taking more iron. I did

as well as joining the gym, going at 6 am to

7 am everyday before school for several months.

I began to get increasingly dizzy however. Away from the library I would have

energy; waking early on weekends to handle

my magazine reviews, my radio job and family commitments. I would sleep well and

feel energized upon waking but once back

at school I would feel tired and disoriented.

January 2004 I developed a sinus infection and missed some school. My continuing

cough was omnipresent. January 28th was

a snow day. The following day I came in to see the ceiling tiles on the floor

again, and began to tally the cost of lost books to

the water damage as the principal asked me to do. I began to find the smell in

the library extremely distasteful; an odor I couldn’t place.

February 3rd of the same year I couldn’t bear to be in the room for the smell.

I complained to janitors, I asked other teachers in.

Descriptions of the smell ranged from citrus to earthy. I thought it was

pesticides but the custodians assured me they do not use them.

By early morning I’d lost control of my legs and fell to the carpet again,

having to crawl out of the space. Another teacher found me on

the hall floor and helped me get to the nurse.

I went directly again to Dr. Weiss who said he can’t test for pesticides. I

had a bad taste in my mouth like hot iron and it wouldn’t subside.

I told him I’ve been having trouble clearing my throat for a feeling of rubber

cement stuck there not moving. This was especially disturbing

at night.

On March 23rd I went to retrieve a book form the WWll section for another school

district and discovered a section I’d missed

from the January 29th clean up. It was slimy and smelly and the shelf had other

books in that condition. (Later I would find that book

to have 780,000 colony forming units of penicullium chrysogenum and 35,000

aspergillus versicolr spores per square inch.)

When I removed them the shelf was black. Immediately I became extremely

disoriented, sick to my stomach, and fell to the

carpet blacking out for probably a few seconds. I crawled out of the library and

went outside to breathe. When I could function

I went straight to my principal who said that the library should close. I made

another appointment for Dr. Weiss to see me and

he began a series of tests over the following months as the school ran tests on

the air quality of the room.

Either they never read the results or failed to understand what they read and

ordered me back into the library in May to put away

13,000 books after " renovations " were done to remove wet carpeting. I worked

long hours, 6 am to 8:30 with my husband bringing

me dinner, so as to get the library back in use again. What I didn’t realize

as I continued to cough and feel foggy was that I was

exposed to very high levels (19:1) of aspergillus versicolor, a mold which

produces cancer causing mycotoxins.

As a result, my throat would close when I entered the library space at all.

Added to the random numbness and disorientation

I developed difficulty breathing and speaking. The first week of June left me

gasping involuntarily. I whispered so as not to aggravate

a burn in my chest. I worked the remaining few weeks of the school year in the

high school library, still coughing.

The summer of 2004 was spent with doctors and lawyers. I couldn’t serve in my

usual position of summer school librarian, losing that

income and expenses began to grow enormous. I saw Dr. R. Shoemaker of land,

a specialist in neurotoxin poisoning.

He has published four books on his experiences with healing several illnesses

caused by toxins stuck in body systems; http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/

Under his care my cough has disappeared. However, I am still coping with

difficult reactions to all chemicals. This link will show everyday items

(poisons) which an uneffected body can filter, mine can no longer tolerate;

http://www.herc.org/news/perfume/risks.htm Some refer to this illness as EI:

Environmental Intolerance or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Any mold “hitâ€

creates instant postnasal drip and a raw burning like open sores or swallowing

whole hot peppers. The burn drops quickly from my throat to my chest and lasts

sometimes for hours, sometimes for the duration of the day.

Even after healing, I cannot return to the Middle School, as it continues to be

moist. The building has a 14 foot buried back wall,

up against which secretaries are in windowless rooms with seeping water ruining

their files. Nor can I work in the High School since this

is an airborne illness and the schools are attached with heavy traffic flow.

The only other school in our tiny district is an old elementary building with

known mold issues in the ground floor and

in the modular classrooms. This leaves my employment potential in the air. Since

I’m unable to breathe unfiltered indoor air currently.

I am not able to work my Tuesday evening reference job at the local college.

I’m not able to continue my Saturday radio show at www.wjffradio.org/FolkPlus

and I’m unable to sing and perform.

My daughter is unable to live with me currently due to the strict air quality

needs I have which impede her ability to have friends and

function as a normal teenager, not to mention she attends the high school which

contains the toxins which made me ill.

Although I am home for the new fall 2004 school year, my husband works for the

school district and is often in the space that made me ill.

The books were not removed, neither were all of the ceiling tiles, nor the

particleboard shelving. These shelves, which buckled from

moisture damage, were bolted back into form. When my husband comes home it’s

like being assaulted with pepper spray. (I guess)

We are coping with serious cross contamination issues. We have removed all

carpeting. He has built a series of plastic covered,

metal stud doors to come through, discard his clothes, shower and then enter my

safe space where I have a HEPA filter running.

When I leave this safe space I need a HEPA mask. So I sit in one room of my home

with HEPA filters and a laptop and a phone.

My bedding is all cotton. Mattresses must be treated by law with fire retardants

and the recommended mattress for this illness is so

hard, my husband goes back to his room at night. My diet is strictly rice and

vegetables at this time, so as not to upset my system with

potential pesticide complications.

The life I knew is over. I’ve become another one of this century’s canaries.

We are so squirreled away for our own health needs it is difficult to reach out

to others who are not aware of the increasing toxicity of our planet. Others

have not

experienced anything similar, and we don’t fit the regular illness scenarios.

Many simply label us as the problem, rather than the toxins that cause our

symptoms.

I plan to try to use radio to education people otherwise.

A history of MCS

http://www.wtv-zone.com/infchoice/mcs/crippling2.html

Another early sufferer

http://www.sdreader.com/php/cityshow.php?id=C052297

Dr. Shoemaker

http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com/

The dangers of fragrance:

http://www.herc.org/news/perfume/risks.htm

Basics on Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

http://ciin.org/what.htm

Help with mold illness from schools

http://schoolmoldhelp.com <http://schoolmoldhelp.com/>

Site with many helpful links and discussion : http://www.mold-help.org/index.htm

specifically schools

http://www.moldhelp.org/pages/submenus/mold_and_schools/index.htm

Safe living areas?

http://www.wtv-zone.com/infchoice/mcs/crippling2.html

Having an allergy is different from being poisoned:

http://www.mold-survivor.com/symptoms.htm

Health threats from Aspergillus

http://www.mold-help.org/pages/submenus/molds/aspergillus.htm

Health problems from molds

http://www.realtor.org/gapublic.nsf/pages/moldhealth

This is not an allergy of any sort. This is poisoning. In gas chambers of WWII

the hay fever sufferers and the non sufferers alike, died.

http://www.mold-survivor.com/harrietammann.htm

In addition to mucous membrane irritation, fungal volatile compounds may impact

the " common chemical sense " which senses pungency and responds to it. This sense

is primarily associated with the trigeminal nerve (and to a lesser extent the

vagus nerve). This mixed (sensory and motor) nerve responds to pungency, not

odor, by initiating avoidance reactions, including breath holding, discomfort,

or paresthesias, or odd sensations, such as itching, burning, and skin crawling.

Changes in sensation, swelling of mucous membranes, constriction of respiratory

smooth muscle, or dilation of surface blood vessels may be part of fight or

flight reactions in response to trigeminal nerve stimulation. Decreased

attention, disorientation, diminished reflex time, dizziness and other effects

can also result from such exposures (Otto et al., 1989

<http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/oehas/mold.html#34> )

http://www.drgloriagilbere.com/article1.html

In the early stages of MCS, repeated exposure to the substance or substances

that caused the initial health effects provokes a reaction. After a time, it

takes less and less exposure to the related chemicals to cause symptoms. As the

body systems break down, an ever-increasing number of chemicals, including some

unrelated to the initial exposure, are found to trigger a reaction.- Dr. Gloria

Gilbere

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/7/2004 7:39:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

pageang@... writes:

Help with mold illness from schools

http://schoolmoldhelp.com <http://schoolmoldhelp.com/>

schoolmoldhelp.org

though .com will work through referral

Knowing the problem (sick building) is half the solution!