FYI Boston Hearings

[Guest guest]

Announcement 11-24-04

The Boston City Council and Councilor Maura A. Hennigan are

announcing a

hearing to address the serious public health threat of mold and poor

indoor air quality, and learn what Boston can do, as a city, to

educate the public and prevent further contamination.

The date is December 9, 2004, to be held at The Boston Teachers

Union, 180 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, MA 02125, at 6pm.

This June, Congressman Conyers, the ranking member of the House

Judiciary Committee, introduced the first Toxic Mold and Indoor Air

Pollution Congressional Caucus and hosted a press conference and

briefing on September 22, 2004 in Washington, DC to further raise

awareness of this growing public health hazard. A representative

group of people from across the country, including Massachusetts,

traveled to Washington DC during the week of September 20, 2004 to

advocate for immediate Congressional action.

Congressman Conyers Jr, (D-MI) who is sponsoring The U.S. Toxic

Mold Safety and Protection Act, HR# 1268will be testifying at the

Boston Hearings. This bill would generate guidelines for preventing

indoor mold growth, establish standards for removing mold when it

does grow, provide grants for mold removal in public buildings,

authorize tax credits for inspection and/or remediation of mold

hazards, and create a national insurance program to protect

homeowners from catastrophic losses. In addition, an Emergency

Appropriation Bill is included, to help schools remediate

contaminated buildings and improve air quality.

The aim of Hennigan's order is to educate the public about the

problem of

indoor mold and poor indoor air quality due to water intrusion in

public and

private buildings in the city. Although indoor mold is sometimes

invisible to the naked eye, the potential health effects and

symptoms associated with mold exposures are very

visible and include, but are not limited to, allergic reactions,

asthma, and

other respiratory complaints. " This is a serious public health risk

and I look forward to continuing to raise awareness and educate the

public about this issue by bringing in those who are knowledgeable

on this matter, " Hennigan concluded.

Many local, state and national agencies and organizations have

conducted research and/or have recognized the serious health effects

and property damage caused by indoor mold including:

CDC, EPA, FEMA, ASHRAE, ANSI, NIOSH, OSHA, AIHA, WHO, AMA, American

Lung Association, U.S. Surgeon General, American Academy of

Pediatrics, ACGIH, U.S. Army, USDA, Massachusetts Nurses

Association, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

American Agricultural Association, MassCosh, Boston Urban Asthma

Coalition, National Academy of Sciences, IAQA, Silent Spring,

Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council, HUD, Indoor

Environmental Standards Organization, Sheet Metal Workers Union,

National Teachers Association, and Indian Health Service,

Massachusetts Teachers Assoc.

Testimony is expected from; Congressman Conyers, Physicians

currently treating mold related illness, Teachers, Environmental

Groups, Mold Advocacy Groups, Research Scientists specializing in

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Nurses, and many others.

The general public is cordially invited to attend.

For directions or further information, contact

Councilor Maura Hennigan 617-635-4217

Mulvey son 617-522-1372

978-433-0450

CDC: Center for Disease Control

EPA: Environmental Protection Agency

FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency

ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air

Conditioning Engineers

ANSI: American National Standards Institute

NIOSH: National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety

OSHA: Occupational Health and Safety Administration

AIHA: American Industrial Hygiene Association

WHO: World Health Organization

AMA: American Medical Association

American Lung Association

US Surgeon General

American Academy of Pediatrics

ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists

U.S. Army

USDA: US Drug Administration

Massachusetts Nurses Association

AAAAI: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

American Agricultural Association

MassCosh: Massachusetts Coalition of Occupational Safety and Health

Boston Urban Asthma Coalition

National Academy of Sciences

IAQA: Indoor Air Quality Association

Silent Spring

Building Environment and Thermal Envelope Council

HUD: Housing and Urban Development

IESO: Indoor Environmental Standards Organization

Sheet Metal Workers Union

National Teachers Association

Indian Health Service

Massachusetts Teachers Association