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FYI Boston Hearings

#2452 - 11/24/04 08:53 PM Edit Reply Quote

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