Mold spawning health risks, high costs

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http://www.washtimes.com/upi-breaking/20041221-102950-3288r.htm

Mold spawning health risks, high costs

By Holli Chmela

UPI Correspondent

Washington, DC, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Two years ago, after a few highly

public lawsuits, indoor toxic mold known as stachybotrys chartarum

or stachybotrys atra was launched into the spotlight for attacking

individuals' homes, spiking homeowners' insurance costs and causing

some insurance agencies to insert mold-exclusive clauses into their

policies.

Today, mold has become a major concern in the United States, causing

serious health problems, taking over schools, offices, condominiums,

and other buildings -- and costing people millions of dollars to

clean it up.

E. Fischer, Jr., president and founder of South Eastern Mold

Institute, a mold training and remediation company in Panama City,

Fla., said the mold situation in public buildings has

become " catastrophic. "

" I get calls daily from people who are sick or their families are

sick. People who have to vacate their homes because they can't

breathe, " Fischer told United Press International. " Some of the

older homes around, I don't get calls from, but it's the newer

buildings where the problem is. "

Fischer said that in 1984, there was only one case involving mold in

a home or building. By 1998, the number reached 48. " Then it really

took off, " Fisher said. He said there were 2,567 cases in 1999,

5,821 in 2000, and 7,143 cases by 2001.

" Construction standards need to be revised, " Fischer said. " If you

look at the things we build out of, it's food for mold. Drywall has

paper backing. Once it hits 65 percent humidity, mold starts to grow

right there. "

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in the early-

to mid-1900s, building ventilation standards called for

approximately 15 cubic feet per minute of outside air for each

building occupant. In response to the 1973 oil embargo, those

standards were reduced to 5 cfm in an effort to conserve energy.

In the 1980s the standards were raised again, but the buildings

still remain, leading scientists to search high and low for the

cause of a new mysterious illness referred to as " sick building

syndrome. " Scientists found that the energy-efficient building

techniques designed to cut costs, conserve energy, and decrease

outdoor air ventilation also created perfect growing conditions for

mold.

In many regions of the country, the concern about mold has focused

on public schools because of increasing numbers of children with

asthma and allergies. Last week, the Boston City Council held a

hearing, lead by City Councilor Maura A. Hennigan, on the " serious

public health threat of mold and poor indoor air quality " in an

attempt to be the " model city " on mold.

" My hope is to develop standards, guidelines, and recommendations

for the problem of mold in Boston's public schools and public

buildings, " Hennigan told United Press International. " We are the

birthplace of public education here, and we can really lead the way

nationally. "

The Boston hearing developed a blue-ribbon task force to help the

city create standards that the whole country can follow for dealing

with mold problems.

" It's going to come down to the federal government, " Fischer

said. " They're going to have to look at mold as a contaminant. Right

now they don't look at it as a danger. "

Congressman Conyers, Jr., D-Mich. is sponsoring the U.S. Toxic

Mold Safety and Protection Act, HR 1268, and introduced the first

Toxic Mold and Indoor Air Pollution Congressional Caucus this past

June.

The bill generates guidelines for preventing indoor mold growth,

establishes standards and grants for mold removal, authorizes tax

credits for mold inspection or remediation of mold hazards, and

creates a national insurance program to protect homeowners from

catastrophic losses.

Segal, assistant to Conyers, was one of over 100 people who

attended the four-hour hearing in Boston.

" Boston is viewing it as a serious health emergency, " Segal told

United Press International. " They're saying, 'We're not taking it

anymore. This is too dangerous for our children.' "

The city of Boston estimates that there are about 20 schools with

some kind of leakage problem, and that roof leaks can be fixed at a

rate of three or four each year. Water damage is one of the most

common factors in mold growth and poor indoor air quality.

Dr. Simone Sommer, a physician who testified at the hearing, told

United Press International that 50 percent of the schools in the

nation have a visible, known mold problem.

" Mold is one of these new problems people are turning a deaf ear to

because they know it's going to cost money, " Segal said. " There is

plenty of money to clean this mold up. It's just a matter of getting

it. "

Boston proposed a cost-sharing plan to come up with the estimated

$200 million needed to remedy the poor indoor air-quality in the

public schools associated with mold and other air contaminants.

" If the city is willing to come up with $30 million to address this

issue, then we can ask the federal government to cover the rest of

the $170 million needed, " Hennigan said. " If you can address the

problems as they occur, not after your capital assets have been used

up, you can save millions and millions of dollars. "

Conyers' bill calls not only for money to be available for

situations like the one in Boston's schools, but also for

preventative measures to be standardized.

" There's already school inspections for asbestos, radon. It's not

like we're re-inventing the wheel, " Segal said. " We want standards

enforceable by law. We want standards for uniform licensure for mold

remediation cleanup. "

There are currently no standards for the cost of cleanup, or for who

is authorized to remove mold. Fischer's company charges based on the

square footage affected and the degree of mold growth. Other

companies charge by the hour. Fischer has charged between $15,000-

$23,000, but he said his rate is higher than average because he

includes a minimum of 10 air samples and at least two rolls of film.

" Some, who have the resources, try to pay out of their own pockets, "

Fischer said. " Others, who don't have the resources end up having to

walk away from the home. "

He added, " It's gonna come down to the federal government. They're

gonna have to look at mold as a contaminant. Right now they don't

look at it as a danger. "

Segal agrees the federal government needs to take action, and said

Boston's task force is the first step in the right direction. He

said Conyers is asking the American Public Health Association to do

studies on mold, so the government will recognize it as a serious

problem.

" We can have a respected scientist and doctor say there is 40

million (Americans exposed to mold), but until there's a government

study, no one will believe it, " Segal said.

" Boston is not the only city affected, but recognizing it is really

important is the first step, " Hennigan said. " There is a school of

thought, like there was with tobacco and asbestos, for example, to

pretend this is not a major thing. But as a city, we'd like to

address this as a very serious issue. "