Pennsylvania: Toxic Mold: Is Your Home at Risk?

[Guest guest]

Wednesday, June 1, 5:55 p.m.

By Kurt

Toxic Mold: Is Your Home at Risk?

http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=3419311

Web Links

EPA Guide to Toxic Mold

Health Risks of Toxic Mold

PA Dept. of Health

Toxic Mold Photos

Could your house be making you sick? Could you be suffering from

symptoms of toxic mold and not know?

One of Pennsylvania's leading experts on mold, Dr. Hernando of

Drexel University in Philadelphia has been studying the effects of

mold on the human body for more then ten years.

" Mold is everywhere. It's been around forever. Ever since there's

been inhabitants in the world, " said Dr. . He said mold spores

float in the air coming into our homes from outside. They then stick

to a surface and if that surface has moisture, the spores grow.

You typically see small amounts of mold growing in places such as

bathtubs and sinks. What isn't typical is active mold growth in your

home, or what experts call colonizing. That means your home has a

moisture problem. If left untreated over a period of time, the

colonizing can lead to toxic mold.

The three most common groups of mold that can produce mold poisons

are Stachybotrys, which has been linked to deaths, Penicillium,

which can cause hay fever-like symptoms and Aspergillus, which has

been linked to mold growth in the lungs.

" These molds are microscopic. Sometimes we see them growing on walls

but the real problem is what we can't see, the ones in the air that

we breath in. These small particles are the perfect size to get into

our lungs and cause problems, " explained .

The link between toxic mold and health problems prompted

Pennsylvania to create a new task force on mold. The task force met

for the first time in April.

Dr. is on the panel and describes some typical symptoms a

person might suffer from mold exposure. " Watery eyes, runny nose and

sometimes a dry cough. Symptoms you normally would associate with a

hay fever type of illness, " said . Other symptoms believed to

be associated with toxic mold are certain types of hyper-sensitivity

to breathing, skin infections, lung infections and bleeding, such as

constant nose bleeds.

State Representative Jim Wansacz is also on the state's task force.

He said toxic mold is a serious problem. " New construction of homes

in which houses are tighter, mold is creating a lot more problems.

People are getting sick. This is the first step, studying this,

which we've never done before, " Wansacz explained.

He wants guidelines for the construction of homes or additions. He

said leaving wood exposed to rain and moisture for months can create

perfect conditions for mold growth. When the home is framed and

sealed, mold may begin to grow inside the walls.

Gleason said he and his family experienced all of these

symptoms while in their house in Moosic. Gleason said after several

years of being sick and treated by doctors for everything except

toxic mold, he contacted Dr. Ed Montz of Indoor Air Solutions in

Pottstown.

Dr. Montz is considered one of Pennsylvania's leading experts on air

quality and has testified in many court cases involving toxic mold

and its effects on people. He tested Gleason's home and found toxic

mold.

" The reason you're going through some of these ailments is you're

having hyper-sensitivity to the molds in your home. I bet other

chemicals are bothering you too, like perfumes? I said yes. He said

get out of your house, leave everything. Find some place to go

immediately because you are definitely killing your family. Two

weeks later we got the full report showing our readings were off the

charts, " recounted Gleason.

That was five years ago and even though they left their home in

Moosic, Gleason said he and his family still have health problems.

He said doctors have told him those health problems may never go

away.

Montz said mold can grow anywhere but there are two hot

spots. " Attics and basements. Roofs are prone to leak. You get mold

on sheathing material, even on the rafters of the roof, " Montz

explained.

The doctor said basements are also a hot spot because they're often

damp and that can lead to mold growth.

" You can develop a considerable amount of mold growth. We've seen

people get ill from as little as a 12 inch area of mold on something

as simple as a ceiling tile, " said Dr. Montz.

If you do find a small area of mold no larger than nine square feet,

you can clean it yourself. First find the water source and stop it.

If you don't the mold will continue to grow.

" The CDC says you can use a weak bleach solution or a regular house

detergent and lightly wipe the mold off. Don't use excessive

moisture and make sure you allow treated areas to dry, " Montz said.

If you find a larger area of mold, the doctor recommends hiring a

professional to clean it. They will also test each room in your home

for toxic mold.

Finding a professional to test your home thoroughly can be

expensive. The cost could exceed $1,000. Using a reputable company

is very important, according to Representative Wansacz. His office

is receiving a lot of calls from people who say they have been taken

advantage of by companies who say they can clean up mold.

To determine if you have a moisture problem or mold growth, use a

flashlight look in those areas. Check the surface of the wood,

drywall, wallpaper, carpeting and even ceiling tiles. Any areas

which appear to have odd colors such as black, green or white are

probably mold growth.

[Guest guest]

I'm glad Ch16 did this story but we want everyone

know that when we contacted this newstation last year

about our families losses due to Toxic Mold exposure

but they refused to listen. I guess it had something

to do with the home we were living in being remodeled

by Habitat for Humanity . They looked the other way

when we tried to get the work out in our community to

help protect other innocent families having homes

built by HFH of Lackawanna County. Everyone should be

held to the same standards .

http://www.toxichabitat.com/

--- tigerpaw2c <tigerpaw2C@...> wrote:

> Wednesday, June 1, 5:55 p.m.

> By Kurt

> Toxic Mold: Is Your Home at Risk?

>

>

>

> http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=3419311

>

> Web Links

>

> EPA Guide to Toxic Mold

> Health Risks of Toxic Mold

> PA Dept. of Health

> Toxic Mold Photos

>

>

> Could your house be making you sick? Could you be

> suffering from

> symptoms of toxic mold and not know?

>

> One of Pennsylvania's leading experts on mold, Dr.

> Hernando of

> Drexel University in Philadelphia has been studying

> the effects of

> mold on the human body for more then ten years.

>

> " Mold is everywhere. It's been around forever. Ever

> since there's

> been inhabitants in the world, " said Dr. . He

> said mold spores

> float in the air coming into our homes from outside.

> They then stick

> to a surface and if that surface has moisture, the

> spores grow.

>

> You typically see small amounts of mold growing in

> places such as

> bathtubs and sinks. What isn't typical is active

> mold growth in your

> home, or what experts call colonizing. That means

> your home has a

> moisture problem. If left untreated over a period of

> time, the

> colonizing can lead to toxic mold.

>

> The three most common groups of mold that can

> produce mold poisons

> are Stachybotrys, which has been linked to deaths,

> Penicillium,

> which can cause hay fever-like symptoms and

> Aspergillus, which has

> been linked to mold growth in the lungs.

>

> " These molds are microscopic. Sometimes we see them

> growing on walls

> but the real problem is what we can't see, the ones

> in the air that

> we breath in. These small particles are the perfect

> size to get into

> our lungs and cause problems, " explained .

>

> The link between toxic mold and health problems

> prompted

> Pennsylvania to create a new task force on mold. The

> task force met

> for the first time in April.

>

> Dr. is on the panel and describes some typical

> symptoms a

> person might suffer from mold exposure. " Watery

> eyes, runny nose and

> sometimes a dry cough. Symptoms you normally would

> associate with a

> hay fever type of illness, " said . Other

> symptoms believed to

> be associated with toxic mold are certain types of

> hyper-sensitivity

> to breathing, skin infections, lung infections and

> bleeding, such as

> constant nose bleeds.

>

> State Representative Jim Wansacz is also on the

> state's task force.

> He said toxic mold is a serious problem. " New

> construction of homes

> in which houses are tighter, mold is creating a lot

> more problems.

> People are getting sick. This is the first step,

> studying this,

> which we've never done before, " Wansacz explained.

>

> He wants guidelines for the construction of homes or

> additions. He

> said leaving wood exposed to rain and moisture for

> months can create

> perfect conditions for mold growth. When the home is

> framed and

> sealed, mold may begin to grow inside the walls.

>

> Gleason said he and his family experienced all

> of these

> symptoms while in their house in Moosic. Gleason

> said after several

> years of being sick and treated by doctors for

> everything except

> toxic mold, he contacted Dr. Ed Montz of Indoor Air

> Solutions in

> Pottstown.

>

> Dr. Montz is considered one of Pennsylvania's

> leading experts on air

> quality and has testified in many court cases

> involving toxic mold

> and its effects on people. He tested Gleason's home

> and found toxic

> mold.

>

> " The reason you're going through some of these

> ailments is you're

> having hyper-sensitivity to the molds in your home.

> I bet other

> chemicals are bothering you too, like perfumes? I

> said yes. He said

> get out of your house, leave everything. Find some

> place to go

> immediately because you are definitely killing your

> family. Two

> weeks later we got the full report showing our

> readings were off the

> charts, " recounted Gleason.

>

> That was five years ago and even though they left

> their home in

> Moosic, Gleason said he and his family still have

> health problems.

> He said doctors have told him those health problems

> may never go

> away.

>

> Montz said mold can grow anywhere but there are two

> hot

> spots. " Attics and basements. Roofs are prone to

> leak. You get mold

> on sheathing material, even on the rafters of the

> roof, " Montz

> explained.

>

> The doctor said basements are also a hot spot

> because they're often

> damp and that can lead to mold growth.

>

> " You can develop a considerable amount of mold

> growth. We've seen

> people get ill from as little as a 12 inch area of

> mold on something

> as simple as a ceiling tile, " said Dr. Montz.

>

> If you do find a small area of mold no larger than

> nine square feet,

> you can clean it yourself. First find the water

> source and stop it.

> If you don't the mold will continue to grow.

>

> " The CDC says you can use a weak bleach solution or

> a regular house

> detergent and lightly wipe the mold off. Don't use

> excessive

> moisture and make sure you allow treated areas to

> dry, " Montz said.

>

> If you find a larger area of mold, the doctor

> recommends hiring a

> professional to clean it. They will also test each

> room in your home

> for toxic mold.

>

> Finding a professional to test your home thoroughly

> can be

> expensive. The cost could exceed $1,000. Using a

> reputable company

> is very important, according to Representative

> Wansacz. His office

> is receiving a lot of calls from people who say they

> have been taken

> advantage of by companies who say they can clean up

> mold.

>

> To determine if you have a moisture problem or mold

> growth, use a

> flashlight look in those areas. Check the surface of

> the wood,

> drywall, wallpaper, carpeting and even ceiling

> tiles. Any areas

> which appear to have odd colors such as black, green

> or white are

> probably mold growth.

>

>

>

>